Changes and Opportunities
October 18, 2022
By: Jon Martens, CAPP, Walker Consultants
The world around us continues to change. The parking industry is no exception, notably with the recent merge between MSTPA and the Georgia Parking Association. This year has been one of change for me, as well. I became a grandfather, moved from the suburbs to an old farm and doubled the animal population of our family, all within a few months!
Turns out you must pick a name representing your grandfather status, and, according to my wife, "Grandpa" won't do. I thought it was a fine title, but she said it made me sound too old. I offered several off-the-wall suggestions, with "Yoda" sticking. My son-in-law is a Star Wars fan and thought it was an epic choice. Leaving city life behind has created quite the contrast in daily living. Our little farm came with five resident chickens and three “barn” cats. My first question before committing to the chicken’s was “what do they taste like” – that didn’t go over well with my wife. That’s ok, as it turns out chickens are pretty entertaining.
The combined parking organization adds synergy and new opportunities for members for learning and networking possibilities. Parking and monetizing the curb has become a hot topic of discussion and potential. Technology and innovative vendors are making this possible with cameras, wireless connectivity, apps and creative minds. Given the high number of users interested in curb space, it only makes sense to take steps to further manage this space. Competition at the curb has grown with pickup service, parklets, delivery, TNCs and patrons looking for a quick spot. Monetizing the curb for short term use is a challenge, but it is plausible with the right technology, stakeholder participation and education.
I see choice as another growing trend in parking. Adoption of multiple methods for consumer payment has greatly increased. When I operated parking, I primarily dealt with cash and checks, with limited credit card payments, albeit it was a while ago. (the iPhone had not yet made its debut) Many cities are now offering multiple payment apps in addition to paying cash or a credit card at the meter. Downtown Louisville, for example, now offers five different methods of payment for on-street meters, including several payment apps, texting or physical cash at the meter. This effort required forward thinking, planning, coordination, and determination to implement. Based on discussions with the Parking Authority of River City (PARC), adding payment options has increased adoption rates and reduced cash handling.
Electric Vehicle Charging also makes my list of changes impacting the world of parking. EVs on the road are becoming more and more common. They all need a place to charge, although with range increasing, this is not as much of an issue as when they first came out. Planning for EV charging is now common in most new parking structures being designed or considered, with some communities requiring EV stations or at least requiring some parking to be EV ready in the future by providing conduit pathways. As sales continue to increase and vehicle manufacturers shift to "EV only" vehicle production, not to mention the west coast state setting dates to end the sale of traditional gas-powered vehicles, our industry must adjust to the demand and play a part in its transformation.
These are exciting times for both the parking profession as well as its consumers. The industry's dramatic changes due to technology have only increased my anticipation of how it will adjust to even more change on the horizon.
What changes have you encountered recently within your parking organization, as well as in life itself? One thing I've come to appreciate is that change is inevitable. Better to see them as opportunities and discover how best to engage in them.
