Smart parking trial coming to Manuka

vagabondo said :

A smarter parking trial would be price parking more like a real market so the price goes up as fewer spaces are available and goes down as more spots become vacant.

They’ve flagged this as something they want in the trial:
http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/government-it/smart-parking-for-canberra-means-pain-and-convenience-through-use-of-sensors-and-wifi-20150608-ghjj2v.html

The trial operator will be required to offer strategies for parking surge periods, including events at Manuka Oval or other sites.

rubaiyat said :

How about ACTION buses has an App that actually uses the GPS data that they are using to locate the buses.

They already do (and have for a long time). GPS data is part of the developer access and apps have been using it for ages. The app I use (TripMate Canberra) is one such option. The timetable data is live, not static.

A smarter parking trial would be price parking more like a real market so the price goes up as fewer spaces are available and goes down as more spots become vacant.

Postalgeek said :

I always find a spot in Manuka. I just go into the multi-storey car park.

Okay, that sounds like it may be good for you and you won’t be affected. But from the point of view of a person with low income, does it cost more for an hour to park there against another spot in Manuka? Is the reason there are spots at the multi-storey car park because it costs more for a short stay than other more convenient spots? So would therefore this mean that for a low income person, this comes at an added cost to them? I don’t park in Manuka often but I do know there are some health services that run from there so some low income people will be referred to see them, usually meaning a short park for an hour or two.

Maya123 said :

rubaiyat said :

Maya123 said :

JimboJones said :

Seems like a good idea in my opinion.

@Maya123 – So should we just stop coming up with new ideas because of a bunch of old codgers who are too set in their own ways?

Or find, on limited income, the plans to use these phones too expensive. Last time I checked, a cheap phone with only calls and text, was much cheaper than using a phone with apps. Yes, I meet your definition of ‘old codger’, because I find the plans for using apps too expensive.

$19/month and you can drop your landline?

Maybe I should check again, because last time I looked it was about $50. My plan at present is less than that, but it doesn’t give much data, so I only use it to make phone calls and send texts, unless wifi is available. I will need to keep the landline though, as in much of my house I can’t get a mobile signal.

I rechecked. It is $20, 1.5Gb/month and no longer available! 🙁

But as part of my bundle, I’m still in luck. 🙂

How will this help the parking situation? It doesn’t create more spots, and filling the available spots isn’t a problem. In areas like Mauka or Dickson there’s usually a car pulled off to the side waiting for someone to reverse out so they can get the spot. In the time it takes the app to update that a spot has become open , that spot will be gone before the app user reaches it.

I predict a massive failure in this venture. Nothing wrong with the KISS principle. The red and green lights of the Canberra centre are indication enough of open spots. Phone not required.

Maya123 said :

rubaiyat said :

Maya123 said :

JimboJones said :

Seems like a good idea in my opinion.

@Maya123 – So should we just stop coming up with new ideas because of a bunch of old codgers who are too set in their own ways?

Or find, on limited income, the plans to use these phones too expensive. Last time I checked, a cheap phone with only calls and text, was much cheaper than using a phone with apps. Yes, I meet your definition of ‘old codger’, because I find the plans for using apps too expensive.

$19/month and you can drop your landline?

Maybe I should check again, because last time I looked it was about $50. My plan at present is less than that, but it doesn’t give much data, so I only use it to make phone calls and send texts, unless wifi is available. I will need to keep the landline though, as in much of my house I can’t get a mobile signal.

I’m with TransACT/iiNET as part of a bundle. Just looked but can’t see my plan so it seems to be a legacy plan:

Called the Mobile 20 Package

I get enough data to get me through the month, I am not a heavy user except when travelling, and the good thing is I get warnings on usage.

A friend of mine just got stung by Telstra when they went massively over on their plan.

I always find a spot in Manuka. I just go into the multi-storey car park.

rubaiyat said :

Maya123 said :

JimboJones said :

Seems like a good idea in my opinion.

@Maya123 – So should we just stop coming up with new ideas because of a bunch of old codgers who are too set in their own ways?

Or find, on limited income, the plans to use these phones too expensive. Last time I checked, a cheap phone with only calls and text, was much cheaper than using a phone with apps. Yes, I meet your definition of ‘old codger’, because I find the plans for using apps too expensive.

$19/month and you can drop your landline?

You can get a smart phone and be on a plan that gives you enough data to use these parking apps? Not that I want to sound dubious, but if that exists, I’m swapping to this plan. I don’t have a smart phone and pay $19 per month. I do get a small token amount of data with the plan but it wouldn’t be enough to use a smart phone with it.

Otherwise, if you do end up paying a lot per month to find a car park in Canberra, it will only advantage the well off or less discerning people when it comes ot money.

rubaiyat said :

Maya123 said :

JimboJones said :

Seems like a good idea in my opinion.

@Maya123 – So should we just stop coming up with new ideas because of a bunch of old codgers who are too set in their own ways?

Or find, on limited income, the plans to use these phones too expensive. Last time I checked, a cheap phone with only calls and text, was much cheaper than using a phone with apps. Yes, I meet your definition of ‘old codger’, because I find the plans for using apps too expensive.

$19/month and you can drop your landline?

Maybe I should check again, because last time I looked it was about $50. My plan at present is less than that, but it doesn’t give much data, so I only use it to make phone calls and send texts, unless wifi is available. I will need to keep the landline though, as in much of my house I can’t get a mobile signal.