Make Parking Easier??
On Sunday as I was walking around the Farmer's Market near George Washington Park there were young kids handing out fliers and asking people if they wanted to make parking in Park Slope easier. I was with my kids and had a load of groceries, so I did not take one, but I was curious what their proposed solution was.
Comments
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Interesting. I'll sign up.
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That's exactly what we need. People driving around looking at their Blackberry's trying to find a parking spot instead of keeping their eyes on the road. Didn't NYS just pass an anti-texting law? I would think that this falls into that category, no?
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They ask specifically that you NOT text while driving or walking.
I tried this today. Entered a GIVE (give a spot) before I left, but no one was waiting for the spot when I got to the car.
Tried a GET (find a spot) when Ireturned but no spots where I needed them. There were a couple of meters open, but that doesn't really help me.
An interesting idea, let's see how it turns out. -
Zakafon wrote: That's exactly what we need. People driving around looking at their Blackberry's trying to find a parking spot instead of keeping their eyes on the road. Didn't NYS just pass an anti-texting law? I would think that this falls into that category, no?
Has there been a law passed? I know there was talk about it, not sure if it passed or not.
but, either way, no one is suggesting that you text and drive.
tonight, right before I pulled out of my spot, I sent a "give" text, and then on my way home, when I got near my house, I pulled over and sent a "get" text, it actually came up with a spot for me that worked. When i got out of my car, i saw a spot up the block, so, I sent another "give" text, hope someone got it -
An actual app for android or iphone would be the logical next step for a good idea.
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they were originally going to do an Iphone app only, but wanted to be able to include everyone.
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Are you kidding? This idea is ridiculous, as there are often at least one or two double-parked cars on any given sidestreet waiting for someone to move so they can park. If I had been waiting for a spot for a half hour (often the case) and someone attempted to swoop in ahead of me because they thought they were next in line, according to their iphone, i'd resort to violence.
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I seriously don't understand this idea- it subverts all conventional wisdom about finding parking in no-park slope. given the incredible demand and competitiveness for parking spaces, and the unspoken rules of the road - you've been waiting, you're closer to the car that's leaving - doesn't this idea smack of major problems waiting to happen?
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I kind of like the idea of people selling things that they don't own (like street parking)
In this case, folks waiting for an alert about a parking spot will be forced to consume advertising.
But, I'm thinking about going a step further and creating an incentive for the "giver". In exchange for sending out an alert to me that they are about to move their car, I would paypal them $ if I successfully used their tip to obtain a spot... Spots on the good side for tomorrow would be worth more than those on the bad side.
Or maybe they could get status points which could then be used and traded. The local pub could sell "virtual beers" that could I send, and would then be redeemable for actual beers.
(damn, I should have trademarked that idea before I posted it) -
snarkslope wrote: I seriously don't understand this idea- it subverts all conventional wisdom about finding parking in no-park slope. given the incredible demand and competitiveness for parking spaces, and the unspoken rules of the road - you've been waiting, you're closer to the car that's leaving - doesn't this idea smack of major problems waiting to happen?
It's come as you may, no one is going to hold a spot for someone else hooked up with this systeml you put your spot in the system and if someone else on the system is lucky enough to get it, good for them. there are no rules or regulations saying you wait for someone else in the system to come get your spot. I -
by the way, no one is selling anything, there is no fee involved in using this service, it is free to all. it's just like a big message board, if you get lucky enough to get a spot that came up on the system, good for you. it's just an extra advantage.
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LongTimeSloper, its only a matter of time before someone with my ideas PLUS money gets involved.
Anyone have some money to get me started?
How about a patent/trademark?
"Look at that car parked right in front of my building. I wonder if they participate in "parking spot tips"?
I subscribe to parking spot tips for just $5 a month.
Oh look, I just typed in the lic plate and its registered to whynot_31.
"Whynot has a standing notice on his page that he will move his car for anyone within 15 min for $50, and within 30 min for only $25. Hmmm, too rich for my blood, but a I would like to be among the 10 members who receives a tweet stating when whynot will next move his car; it's only $1. He seems to also accept beer." -
Subject: Parking in Park Slope
A number of years ago there was a website set up which asked people to post when they were leaving a parking spot on the Upper West Side of Manhattan but it wasn't as efficient as an instant-messaging or twitter system. It ended up failing because people didn't post enough and those looking for spots would find the spots gone by the time they read about them and got downstairs. I would think by now Google Parking Spaces would have been invented to show you empty parking spaces on any street in the country 24/7, which would save me about half an hour a day at least five times per week. -
snarkslope wrote: I seriously don't understand this idea- it subverts all conventional wisdom about finding parking in no-park slope. given the incredible demand and competitiveness for parking spaces, and the unspoken rules of the road - you've been waiting, you're closer to the car that's leaving - doesn't this idea smack of major problems waiting to happen?
What are these rules you speak of? I have not received them. Maybe I missed the meeting?
Parking is a competative sport. If I can get an advantage by using this service, I will use it. -
Jamzer wrote: What are these rules you speak of? I have not received them. Maybe I missed the meeting?
Yeah, they're unspoken rules, which is why I wrote "unspoken rules." "Unwritten rules" would work too, or "accepted standards," or my favorite, "common sense." My point is that the new program seems rife with potential conflicts between people who have been already waiting on the block where the spot is opening up and those who race around the corner to grab "their" spot.
And given how frequently spots here are taken before the spot is actually vacated (double-parked cars pounce, signals are on before the driver has even started the car), I don't get how this messaging system can possibly work. By the time you get a text and drive to the spot, is it really still going to be free? -
It may be, it may not be, people signing up for the service are tkaing their chances. Like Jamzer said, just another little advantage is all
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Seriously, snark slope, you're kinda freaking out...
In this world you can have a ticket for an airplane ride, get to the aeroport, and find out your seat has been given away... I seriously doubt that anyone is going to hold claim to a parking spot because some dude on the internet told them there was a spot on 6th street.
I really don't see a conflict... furthermore, if this limited test is any indication (seems like it worked for LTS) then it could be a good thing...
Also, as far as monetizing this goes: 1) wacky pay pal schemes are just that - wacky... 2) bidding ALWAYS lead to over paying..
I'd think the best route to go is the whole GREEN movement thing. Personally, I can't stand watching people race around the slope, driving senseless miles in search of a spot. This little program could cure that.
Just a thought. -
Interesting idea but I doubt it would work. You'd have to wait in your car for the 'getter' to arrive or else somebody else would likely take the spot. If this holding spots gains traction I could see a lot of people being pissed off. Can you sell rights to access public space on a street? I don't think so, soon enough local city council members will have their say and pass an ordinance prohibiting it (if it's not already illegal).
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I looked into it and it seems to me that it's more of a heads up thing than a strict reservation. Read their FAQs.
I doubt that many will sit and wait for a "designated parker" to arrive; particularly since the service isn't set up in a way which lets the "giver" know who's been alerted to the spot. and I still think that first come first served is in effect. It's not that unlike letting a neighbor know you'll be leaving a spot. and it's certainly less obnoxious than the pedestrian standing in a parking spot holding it for a friend. -
bluecat wrote: Interesting idea but I doubt it would work. You'd have to wait in your car for the 'getter' to arrive or else somebody else would likely take the spot. If this holding spots gains traction I could see a lot of people being pissed off. Can you sell rights to access public space on a street? I don't think so, soon enough local city council members will have their say and pass an ordinance prohibiting it (if it's not already illegal).
Please read where this was talked about in previous posts, no one is advocating 'holding" spots, that is NOt the intention of the program at all. Not like I don't see people standing around in parking spots all the time nowadays "holding" a spot for someone, but, this program is not saying to do that at all.
How could letting your "friends" know there is an open spot somewhere be illegal? Again, no one is selling spots or holding spots, just putting notice out there about availability. -
snarkslope wrote: [quote=Jamzer]What are these rules you speak of? I have not received them. Maybe I missed the meeting?
Yeah, they're unspoken rules, which is why I wrote "unspoken rules." "Unwritten rules" would work too, or "accepted standards," or my favorite, "common sense." My point is that the new program seems rife with potential conflicts between people who have been already waiting on the block where the spot is opening up and those who race around the corner to grab "their" spot.
And given how frequently spots here are taken before the spot is actually vacated (double-parked cars pounce, signals are on before the driver has even started the car), I don't get how this messaging system can possibly work. By the time you get a text and drive to the spot, is it really still going to be free?
Well somebody should take the time to put these rules down on paper. I want to follow the rules, I really do, but how are we supposed to follow rules that are not spoken or written down anywhere?
:roll: -
Jazmer... like many people on this board, I seriously doubt you would read the rules...
This board, and this thread is filled with examples of people not reading a god damn thing. -
wow, check out all of this sturm und drang.
Seems to me like this just proves that on-street parking in this neighborhood is simply way too cheap. -
Drunken Revival wrote: Jazmer... like many people on this board, I seriously doubt you would read the rules...
I take exception to your comment. I have read every word of this thread.
This board, and this thread is filled with examples of people not reading a god damn thing.
What were we talking about again? -
Well.. it was an exceptional comment...
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snarkslope wrote: Are you kidding? This idea is ridiculous, as there are often at least one or two double-parked cars on any given sidestreet waiting for someone to move so they can park. If I had been waiting for a spot for a half hour (often the case) and someone attempted to swoop in ahead of me because they thought they were next in line, according to their iphone, i'd resort to violence.
I agree snarkslope and I had the same thought when I was handed one of these flyers over the weekend. For those who don't get it, from the site:
"GIVE AWAY A PARKING SPOT
1. Text "give" to 95495.
2. Roadify will prompt you to supply your approximate location (street and cross streets) and estimated time when the spot will be available.
3. Reply with the appropriate info. Abbreviations are OK.
You may also enter all info in a single text message.
Example: give at 5th St btw 6th and 7th Ave in 10 min
Now let's say someone has been outside on 5th st btw 6th and 7th ave waiting for a spot for 30 minutes. You get in your car and said person pulls up only to be told someone is coming for the spot and you can't have it. Good luck not getting the sh*t kicked out of you. -
exactly, why would anyone tweet without personal gain?
The trick is obviously to wait near your car (but not in your car), this way you can sell the spot to someone who arrives as a result of your tweet, but not be bothered by someone just cruising around looking for a spot, but unwilling to pay. (see above post)
here's a tweet:
"midway between 7th and 8th ave on 4th St. I'm in red jacket. Good SUV-size spot. $10" -
eggcream wrote: [quote=snarkslope]Are you kidding? This idea is ridiculous, as there are often at least one or two double-parked cars on any given sidestreet waiting for someone to move so they can park. If I had been waiting for a spot for a half hour (often the case) and someone attempted to swoop in ahead of me because they thought they were next in line, according to their iphone, i'd resort to violence.
I agree snarkslope and I had the same thought when I was handed one of these flyers over the weekend. For those who don't get it, from the site:
"GIVE AWAY A PARKING SPOT
1. Text "give" to 95495.
2. Roadify will prompt you to supply your approximate location (street and cross streets) and estimated time when the spot will be available.
3. Reply with the appropriate info. Abbreviations are OK.
You may also enter all info in a single text message.
Example: give at 5th St btw 6th and 7th Ave in 10 min
Now let's say someone has been outside on 5th st btw 6th and 7th ave waiting for a spot for 30 minutes. You get in your car and said person pulls up only to be told someone is coming for the spot and you can't have it. Good luck not getting the sh*t kicked out of you.
do you people not read? How many times has this been psoted in this thread?
For the billionth time, no one is saying to do that! that is NOT the point of doing this! You are not supposed to sit around waiting for someone else from the text messages to come get your spot, for crying out loud! You put it into the system and then go! It's a hit or miss option but just a little advantage. No one is guaranteeing the spot will be there when you get there nor are people supposed to hold spots, how many times has this been said? -
LongTimeSloper wrote: Please read where this was talked about in previous posts, no one is advocating 'holding" spots, that is NOt the intention of the program at all. Not like I don't see people standing around in parking spots all the time nowadays "holding" a spot for someone, but, this program is not saying to do that at all.
I'm just saying there are way too many people looking for spots at any given time. No matter what the intention of the system is, if you don't hold the spot it will be quickly taken by someone cruising the streets.LongTimeSloper wrote: How could letting your "friends" know there is an open spot somewhere be illegal? Again, no one is selling spots or holding spots, just putting notice out there about availability.
Using an organized and presumably patentable system is different than casually telling your friend of a spot. This is a beta test of a system the organizers hope to profit from one day.
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