Urban parking information provision: an in-depth effect analysis

Abstract

Recent advances in wireless communication technologies, such as parking sensors, enable real-time information provision on on-street parking places to drivers. These developments have been embraced by policy makers, as they expect that real-time information may reduce traffic searching for a parking place, which sometimes accounts for as much as 30% of all traffic in a city center. Till today, these expectations have not been subjected to rigorous analyses. This PhD thesis shows, using a detailed parking simulation model, that the benefits to society of parking information are likely to be limited. The reduction in search time for drivers with access to information comes at a cost for drivers without access to the information technology. The net effect on search time is close to zero. Hence, information on on-street parking places is unlikely to have the expected positive benefits on noise and air pollution. Local authorities should be careful before committing to invest local funds in on-street parking information technology.