Selecting the right parking management equipment for council car parks
Is it time to replace your car park management equipment?
In this blog we take a look at some of the factors to consider when selecting car parking management equipment, there is more to this decision than simply cost.
There is a bewildering amount of options to manage your parking facilities and when looking to select the most suitable options, we recommend that you start this selection process by confirming both parking management and wider town centre ‘parking objectives‘.
Once your objectives have been defined, it’s time to consider both user types and parking needs:
User types
- Shoppers
- Workers
- Leisure
- Residents
Parking need
- Waiting
- Pick up/ drop off
- Express stay
- Short stay
- Medium stay
- Long stay
- Blue badge holders
- Parent & child
- Buses & coaches
- Motorcycles, bicycles, scooters
- Delivery and collection vehicles
- Emergency vehicles
These different user types and parking needs often mean that equipment types have to be able to perform multiple options if they are to provide an overall effective parking solution and for requirements incorporating multiple parking locations, a mix of parking equipment types may well be the most suitable option.
Now for the equipment / service options:
- Pay & Display
- Pay on foot
- ANPR
- Barriers
- Pay online
- Pay by phone
- Card readers
In reviewing the options and how each option is aligned with your parking objectives, user types and parking needs to ensure the most suitable option is selected, there are a host of factors we recommend are considered:
- Capital cost; does the cost align with the budget and can savings be negotiated.
- Operational cost; what are the annual operational costs.
- Groundworks; what works and consents are required to facilitate the equipment install, power, data, equipment islands, etc and who will undertake this work.
- Installation; what works and consents are required to install and who will undertake this work.
- Installation locations; are equipment locations defined and does that limit the types of equipment options.
- Connectivity; what are the requirements for power and data supplies and how are they to be got to the equipment and where are they sending the data too.
- Repairs & maintenance; what are the likely costs and who will undertake this and how quickly will they respond?
- Ticket & receipts requirements; is there a need to supply and if so what are the costs and availability of these consumables
- Payment requirements; coins, notes, contactless, chip & pin, phone, online, on account, season tickets, permits, etc.
- Payment costs; all payments come at a cost, what are the transaction costs.
- Planning restraints; will planning consent be required to install equipment.
- Motorist requirements; what are the access and payment requirements for motorists and how do they differ between types; customers, visitors, staff, residents, VIPs, contractors, etc.
- Client requirements; what are the drivers for the client; cost, customer experience, revenue generation, enforcement, timescale, etc
- Reporting functions; what level of reporting functions are required.
- Timescales; how quickly does the equipment need to be operational.
- Life expectancy; what is the life expectancy of the equipment in consideration to its location.
- Emergency vehicles; how will emergency vehicles can access and exit the car park
- Security; what current and potential future security issues will the equipment encounter.
- Health & Safety; are there any H&S factors that need to be considered
- Disabled use; how user friendly is the equipment for motorists with different abilities.
- Language; will the users be of differing nationalities and will multi-language facilities be required.
- Technology advancements; how future proof is the equipment.
In summary, we recommend that parking objectives, user types and parking needs are all defined and from this you can assess the suitability of the different equipment/ service options giving consideration to the above factors.
The People & Places & Parking Process is a multi-leveled approach to consultancy for urban centres to suit every budget and need. To receive further detailed information regarding the scope of our services please email enquires@parkconsult.co.uk or should you simply wish to discuss your specific needs or our services please feel free to call us on 01332 901592.
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