Comments on: Smart(er) Parking in the Future http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/ Sat, 27 Aug 2011 20:30:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: belgand http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-7816 belgand Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:07:56 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/#comment-7816 Ideally we would have parking meters that accept Translink, much like the Octopus card in Hong Kong. Of course, that would assume that we ever manage to get Translink rolled out properly and supported on transit. Or that we can manage to get people to actually use it then. For some reason even FasTrak has hideously low numbers and my girlfriend was opposed to both it and Translink unless she got some kind of discount. You'd think that convenience, ease of use, and everything else would be enough. Ideally we would have parking meters that accept Translink, much like the Octopus card in Hong Kong. Of course, that would assume that we ever manage to get Translink rolled out properly and supported on transit. Or that we can manage to get people to actually use it then. For some reason even FasTrak has hideously low numbers and my girlfriend was opposed to both it and Translink unless she got some kind of discount. You’d think that convenience, ease of use, and everything else would be enough.

]]> By: Bay Area Issues, Links for July 14th, 2008 « Spot Us - The Blog http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-7814 Bay Area Issues, Links for July 14th, 2008 « Spot Us - The Blog Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:53:42 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/#comment-7814 [...] New technology to ease parking pains in Cit [...] [...] New technology to ease parking pains in Cit [...]

]]> By: Jeremy Hatch http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-7811 Jeremy Hatch Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:07:49 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/#comment-7811 Actually, what they reported in 2005 was the background I retold in my first sentence. My second link should be familiar to you. That, of course, was the Port of SF doing a study, and this is SFMTA deploying a new system. Same company is involved, but these are two different stories. The larger point of my question at the end is this: the SF Chronicle is getting scooped on local stories of national importance, and thus losing any potential claim to relevance, due to an apparent editorial policy of over-reporting local trivia. (The name Edgerly comes to mind in this connection.) This is a perfect example of the problem: the Chronicle reported the trivial story and dropped the ball on the big story. They do this over and over, and we deserve better. Actually, what they reported in 2005 was the background I retold in my first sentence. My second link should be familiar to you. That, of course, was the Port of SF doing a study, and this is SFMTA deploying a new system. Same company is involved, but these are two different stories.

The larger point of my question at the end is this: the SF Chronicle is getting scooped on local stories of national importance, and thus losing any potential claim to relevance, due to an apparent editorial policy of over-reporting local trivia. (The name Edgerly comes to mind in this connection.) This is a perfect example of the problem: the Chronicle reported the trivial story and dropped the ball on the big story. They do this over and over, and we deserve better.

]]> By: lern http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-7809 lern Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:40:03 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/#comment-7809 Uh, hate to break it to you but the Chron wrote about this metering project back in December 2005. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/27/BAGHRGDHV21.DTL&hw=streetline+networks&sn=001&sc=1000 Uh, hate to break it to you but the Chron wrote about this metering project back in December 2005.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/27/BAGHRGDHV21.DTL&hw=streetline+networks&sn=001&sc=1000

]]> By: Jeremy Hatch http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-7807 Jeremy Hatch Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:50:21 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/#comment-7807 Thanks, Mark! That's a good question. I would say probably no for two reasons: I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that all SFMTA spaces are metered anyway, and that unmetered garages and lots are private businesses. I'd guess that unassisted market forces have already found the sweet spot for private spaces (that is, the price is as high as it can be without driving too many people away when demand is low, and they still sell out during peak demand) or they have instituted some form of demand pricing anyway, for example, those lots that cost less on Sundays. But that's just an unresearched impression I have! Thanks, Mark!

That’s a good question. I would say probably no for two reasons: I think (correct me if I’m wrong) that all SFMTA spaces are metered anyway, and that unmetered garages and lots are private businesses. I’d guess that unassisted market forces have already found the sweet spot for private spaces (that is, the price is as high as it can be without driving too many people away when demand is low, and they still sell out during peak demand) or they have instituted some form of demand pricing anyway, for example, those lots that cost less on Sundays. But that’s just an unresearched impression I have!

]]> By: Mark Pritchard http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/comment-page-1/#comment-7806 Mark Pritchard Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:21:32 +0000 http://sf.metblogs.com/2008/07/12/smarter-parking-in-the-future/#comment-7806 Nice post, Jeremy! I wonder if they're also going to try demand pricing for parking spaces. Nice post, Jeremy!

I wonder if they’re also going to try demand pricing for parking spaces.

]]>