Find parking on your phone
San Francisco will someday be wired – no, I’m not talking about WiFi. A tech firm called Streetline Networks is working with the city to have sensors laid out which will allow drivers to use their phones to find parking. The sensors would notify a driver when a parking spot is becoming available in their general area. The idea is not simply to remove the frustration involved in trying to find a darn spot, but rather to cut down on the traffic congestion that is caused when drivers have to go around the block numerous times in search of a parking space.
However, the project is expected to run in at $95 MILLION. Seriously. And that will only cover about one quarter of the city’s overall parking spots. Seems more than a little pricey. I’m not sure that many cities would rush to follow suit with that sort of budget.
What do you think? It seems like a neat idea, but it’s way expensive and I can’t help but envision a group of psychotic drivers with cell phones in hand, all racing for the same lone spot.
(source – Chip Chick // Photo – sxc.hu)
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