San Francisco to test wireless parking sensors, cause rat races to momentarily open spaces

We dig the idea in theory, we really do, but we can definitely see this causing more harm than good. Starting this fall, San Francisco will begin a trial involving wireless parking sensors in 6,000 of its 24,000 metered spaces, enabling antsy drivers to be alerted via street signs or cellphones when a spot becomes available. Only one problem -- give 50 anxious motorists the same message that a single spot is unoccupied, and you've just created a bona fide mess. Though it'd probably be fun to watch from the sidewalk, wouldn't you agree?

[Via Core77]

[GenBanks @ Jul 15th 2008 10:45AM]

Just wait until someone figures out how to hack the sensors and creates the parking equivalent of the apocalypse.

[bohsocks @ Jul 15th 2008 10:55AM]

Two out of the last three stories ended with "from the sidelines." lolol.

But yes, I can't wait them to hack it. Can they re-route it to give the WRONG message when spaces are open so the hacker will be the only one headed towards the location of the open spot?

Those poor poor progressive Hybrid drivers.

Come on, people now, people now
People now, come on, people now
Got to drive hybrids, people now
Come on now, people now, people now
Hybrids are for people now, people now
Good for people driving people now
Get a hybrid, be good people now.

[Mr.Tech @ Jul 15th 2008 5:35PM]

Instead of sending wifi or sms message to the user about an open space why not just use a motion detection and show the color of the space if it's open or not? Green for a opened up space and Red or Yellow for a parked space. I easier on the eye and easier for the people whose driving past by.

[GenBanks @ Jul 15th 2008 6:45PM]

The other possible prank would be to remove the sensor and put it on the highway; that way lots of people will get the texts and will proceed to follow their GPS devices towards the nearest interstate highway :D

[Jonathan Keim @ Jul 15th 2008 10:46AM]

Haha, I can imagine. Hopefully they will have the decency to alert one person once every 80 seconds until the spot if filled

[Philippe @ Jul 15th 2008 11:01AM]

Depends where they put it, but some spots don't stay empty for more than a mere 20 seconds. Often people are even waiting for the spot when they see someone getting in their car. So the best would to alert people after 80 seconds of vacancy.

[j_g_puff @ Jul 15th 2008 11:08AM]

This problem's already been solved in 802.11g (and numerous other comms standards): it's called collision avoidance.

[Electromodo @ Jul 15th 2008 10:51AM]

I agree, Engadget, this is a terrible idea.

It can be improved, though. The car computer could be equipped with automatic feedback to those wireless sensors, and the sensor will respond and lock this parking place just for you. Your car could have a "parking search" mode and the sensors will lock spots on "first come-first serve" basis. This can be done with existing level of technology (and existing car software).

But that would be a mess of a different kind though. Better invest into public transportation and motor bicycles instead. ;)

[From My Cube @ Jul 15th 2008 10:51AM]

Coming soon to vegas: "bet on which car will make the spot!"

[bohsocks @ Jul 15th 2008 10:56AM]

Wow. You're... awesome. Brilliant.

[Kevin @ Jul 15th 2008 10:52AM]

Too bad calling "FIRST" wouldn't guarantee you the spot.

[Philippe @ Jul 15th 2008 10:53AM]

That, or they'll be able to easily know whose meter expired.

[couchpundit @ Jul 15th 2008 11:00AM]

ZOMG! The should be really easy to find with those little circles around them!

[iamian @ Jul 15th 2008 11:01AM]

As a non-driver, I love the idea. THe sidelines is where I'd always be. If they could arrange some pile-ups, that'd be good too.

[MadMike @ Jul 15th 2008 11:06AM]

Sidewalk? No. But safely inside a well-built concrete and steel building, from a second or third floor.

[rita hainsworth @ Jul 15th 2008 11:24AM]

I installed this in my bed...

[nvwd @ Jul 15th 2008 1:57PM]

do you really have that much traffic in your bed?

[O @ Jul 15th 2008 11:30AM]

SF is trying plenty of other completely ineffective gimmicks too, like "homeless meters". Wherever there are lots of homeless people, you can put your change into a parking meter rather than the person on the street. It then goes to charity instead. It's an excellent way to move beggars to the places that don't have meters. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/13/MNR110L13S.DTL

[black @ Jul 15th 2008 12:28PM]

lol, that's awesome. Havent been to San Fransico in a while, but after seeing a hobo take a dump while I was at the Metron, its a good thing. I hate hobos.

[Chad @ Jul 15th 2008 11:41AM]

I'm thinking they aren't worrying about rolling this out right now seeing as how one of their admins just locked everyone out of the whole system.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/14/BAOS11P1M5.DTL

[Michael @ Jul 15th 2008 12:04PM]

As a driver in SF I really don't think this will do much good. Parking spots in busy areas are generally taken within 30 seconds from my experience, if not instantly, not enough time to even drive around the block let alone check a phone then figure out the address.

[Mr. S. @ Jul 15th 2008 12:02PM]

OMG please make a iPhone app!

[invincible @ Jul 15th 2008 12:07PM]

The concept really isn't THAT different compared to the electronic displays at the entrance of multi-level carparks which keep count of the number of available spots on each level. I mean, in my city there are already navigational road signs with electronic counters for nearby carparks and I haven't seen any big disaster just yet.

The only difference is that instead of pulling a ticket out of the dispenser or driving over/under some sort of sensor at entrance/exit points, you have one mounted on the pavement in each parking bay.

[captainpease @ Jul 15th 2008 12:14PM]

I disagree with the naysayers here. I think this is a great idea! I live in Austin and I'm sick and tired of driving around downtown for 30 minutes on a Friday looking for a parking space. I don't see why this would cause chaos. Not everyone would arrive at the spot at the same time. That's ridiculous.

As for hackers, well, hacking is going to be an issue for all new networked technologies. Does that mean we should stop innovating?

[Bill @ Jul 15th 2008 1:32PM]

It won't work because there are about 10 times more cars looking for parking than there are spaces. No amount of gadgets are going to fix that.

The only thing this service will accomplish is helping to make use of underutilized parking that you sometimes find around 5-10 blocks away from the major retail centers. But these streets tend to have 1 hour limits anyway to protect spaces for the residents.

They should really spend all this money on more centralized parking garages.

[BigD145 @ Jul 15th 2008 12:22PM]

This will cause accidents from people trying to read exactly where this open spot is along with 80 other people. BAM!! 80 car pileup.

[Beej360 @ Jul 15th 2008 1:29PM]

This will definitely cause way more trouble than it's worth, which is not much at all. I live in West Los Angeles (which isn't quite as bad as SF), and I have said for a long time, that the average parking space remains open for about 3-4 seconds. Over and over again, I witness spaces becoming vacated, only to have another car drive right up into the spot barely in time for the first car to leave! And this is WITHOUT the sensor! Even when I am 1 block away, or often, when I'm directly across from the open spot, but on the wrong side of the street, I simply give up because I know it will be gone before I can get to the spot. In my experience this will be worse for SF, because sometimes I am at an intersection, and a spot opens up, I will perform a high-risk and often dangerous maneuver to swing around and get it because a single car extra that goes by means the spot is lost...

[Beej360 @ Jul 15th 2008 1:41PM]

LOL, I don't need to wait to see the halarity ensue in SF, I can see it at home right now in my fish tank! I have 6 or 7 hungry fish swimming around. When I drop in the food pellets, they dash around to get the food. Sometimes they narrowly avert collision... especially when two fish go for the falling food at exactly the same time and speed. It seems they have learned that the food prize goes to a) the fastest and most agile swimmer, or b) the biggest fish with the most momentum. It's amazing the quickness, timing, and precision the fish have. Fortunately the fish don't get hurt because they are only inches from the food. What will happen in SF when an SUV and a mini are driving 40 mph to compete for a single parking space ?!?? The sensor would be total chaos if installed in LA...

[kal326 @ Jul 15th 2008 2:36PM]

Oh the traffic camera videos are about to get a whole lot more entertaining......

[mrpysnik @ Jul 15th 2008 3:33PM]

i also heard that a "brother" system to this open meter alert will be to have variable priced meters based on supply and demand / time of day based on business or residential areas... and if i remember right, the peak rates were outrageous! sounds awful to me. plus, you cant use your phone in your car in san francisco and the rest of california anymore anyway. (sorry this post is so negative)

[ShadowKain @ Jul 15th 2008 3:34PM]

I don't know about anyone else, but I see this as a hilarious occurence. Can you imagine all the hapless dopes fighting for a spot? Genious.

[.o. @ Jul 15th 2008 4:08PM]

I guess I don't understand why this idea is innately problematic.

Currently: hordes of drivers prowling around downtown SF alternately driving 3mph while actively searching for parking, and then driving erratically and aggressively.

Proposal: hordes of drivers prowling around downtown SF alternately driving 3mph while actively searching for parking, and then driving erratically and aggressively. Except now this provides a mechanism for congestion control (e.g. data collection and dynamic pricing) and is part of a much broader traffic reduction initiative.

Somebody in America has to be the one to attempt innovation in traffic mitigation. Might as well be SF. (Which is why $18 of the $23 million is coming from the federal government. Sure is heckofa better expenditure than that Gravina bridge.)

Also, both the NYT article and the engadget post only mention the metered parking spaces. It's important to note that in addition to the 6000+ metered spaces, 11000+ spaces in city-run parking lots and garages will be included in the pilot test. 17K spaces is nothing to sneeze at.

[w00t @ Jul 15th 2008 8:01PM]

This needs to be incorporated into a SatNav!

Imagine...
From: Current Location
To: Closest Parking Space

Or even closest free parking!

[JayMonster @ Jul 16th 2008 9:20AM]

I wish I could find the link to the article, but it has been suggested that the whole "open spot" is merely smoke and mirrors to the real reason they are doing this... When the sensor discovers you are leaving the spot... it zeros out the meter. In other words even if I had pumped enough quarters into the meter that there is another hour of time left when I pull out... the meter immediately resets to zero time, so that when you pull in, there is no "free time" there for the next car.

[GearFlag @ Sep 30th 2008 2:25PM]

I wonder how such parking sensor system help us to find the parking spot. The fact is that there ain't enough parking space for us. I can't imagine the drivers fighting for a single spot.

http://www.gearflag.com