How To Put a Stop to Excessive Parking Traffic
Many problems in the parking industry can trace their root cause to an ineffective parking traffic control plan. Such inconveniences include poor customer experience, low parking revenue, and high environmental impact.
Knowing that these woes can be easily combated should relieve you, your business, and the customers you work so hard to provide a great parking experience. After all, a significant part of creating a seamless parking experience is taking the proper steps to control traffic in and around your parking garages and lots.
A concise, effective parking control process will help everyone from your customers and team to your business’s bottom line and the planet. By following this easy, 4-step guide to bring your traffic control processes up to speed with what you and your customers truly want, you can create a safe, efficient parking environment for your workers and clientele.
Step 1— Emphasize Design Efficiency
When creating a new parking asset, such as a lot or garage, or when looking to upgrade your existing assets, design efficiency is paramount for creating a streamlined experience for consumers and your team members alike. When designing a new lot or garage, your business should consider the size of the space available and the lot’s purpose. It’s important to consider what the lot will be used for since this will impact how you design the space. For example:
- Do you anticipate it will primarily be used by office workers needing a space for 8 hours daily? If so, the garage or lot should have blocks reserved for the businesses that most commonly utilize the space.
- Will it be used by people who need a space for only an hour while visiting a local restaurant? If so, the lines dividing each parking space should be drawn at a diagonal to allow for quicker entry and exit.
- Will a trucking company use it to store their vehicles? If so, the spaces must be extra large to accommodate larger trucks and cars. Also, the pavement must be thicker to accommodate heavier vehicles.
Drainage, lighting, shade, landscaping, access ramps, and barriers, as well as parking spaces sized to industry standards, should all be considered by your business to create a high-quality lot that is safe and efficient. Your lot should have a streamlined entrance process for payment and parking, with labeled floors and sections within your asset for easy navigation.
Step 2— Embrace Digital Wayfinding
Another way to improve your parking traffic control in both existing and new parking assets is to invest in and pursue digital wayfinding techniques. Digital wayfinding uses electronic signage and mobile apps to provide parkers directional assistance.
Digital wayfinding is already in place in many cities across the United States and abroad, including Austin, with electronic signage assisting drivers by directing people toward open parking spots and indicating how many spots are open within a particular parking asset. This system helps to save parkers time and limit roadway congestion. Digital wayfinding is one way to use real-time parking information and data to its fullest potential.
Step 3— Implement Demand-Based Pricing
Another great way to use real-time parking data to control traffic within your parking assets is to implement a demand-based pricing model, also known as Automated Yield Management (AYM), which updates parking rates periodically to mirror demand, all to capture revenue opportunities and control occupancy levels.
In a demand-based pricing system, when demand is low, prices are low to encourage more people to park. Conversely, when demand is high, prices increase, causing some to go elsewhere to find parking, keeping revenue high and occupancy consistent. Pricing around real-time data and statistics can cause a huge increase in revenue, all while maintaining complete traffic control within your asset.
Step 4— Encourage Rideshares
Encouraging rideshares, such as Uber and Lyft, is one final way to manage traffic within your parking assets while simultaneously keeping your revenue high. Rideshares help decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by allowing more people to be transported within a single vehicle. Many rideshare vehicles are also electric or hybrid, providing a further environmental benefit.
One way to incentivize and reward rideshares within your parking asset is to provide specific, conveniently located drop-off spots near the entrance or front of your lot or garage. Added convenience for both rideshare operators and their passengers won’t go unnoticed. Accommodating rideshares in this manner will benefit your asset without interrupting other parkers, as rideshare operators only need to park for short periods to unload and load their vehicles.
Need Help Controlling Traffic?
Creating an effective traffic control plan doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth. ParkHub is here to help your organization implement a winning parking traffic control plan for your new and existing assets. Speak to one of our parking experts for assistance by requesting a demo today.