Smart Park - Questions & Answers
- What kind of personal parking meter is right for me?
- How does the motorist use Smart Park to park his car?
- How and when is the parking fee payment executed?
- If the card is stolen or lost, can it be used by someone else?
- What type of Smart Cards are usually available to the driver?
- Does the card need to remain in the Smart Park device during the parking event?
- What if the Smart Card meter is stolen?
- What would cause Smart Park to reject a card?
- How long will Smart Park operate before battery failure?
- What are the major advantages of Smart Park to a municipality?
- Can the same Smart Card be used by different cities?
- How secure is the system?
- Can the motorist rely on Smart Park to charge only for chargeable hours?
- When Smart Park is operated what does the LCD display?
- Where is Smart Park mounted for inspection?
- If a summons was unjustly issued, can this be verified for corrective action?
- Will the card be completely used?
- How does the driver know at what zone he is parking?
- What is the function of the Parking Control Unit (PCU)?
- Must the parking warden use the PCU for enforcement purposes?
- What are the possible business models for deploying a Smart Park system?
- If a card had very little money left in it, can the next parking event be executed?
1. What kind of personal parking meter is right for me?
No matter how long you park for or how often your use on-street parking, a personal parking meter will save you time, money and will reduce your risk of getting parking tickets! Ganis Systems has developed two types of personal parking meters to suit the needs of all motorists. Spark was engineered to allow citizens to conveniently pay for on-street parking in city centers. Smart Park, on the other hand, was designed to suit the needs of long term parkers - the difference between the two systems is the amount of money you can put in the bank. Smart Park works with a Smart Card and you can pre-pay your parking fees up to $200 at a time.
2. How does the motorist use Smart Park to park his car?
Operating the unit is simple and intuitive. The following operating instructions are attached to the back of the device
3. How and when is the parking fee payment executed?
The Smart Park stores the last parking event data in its memory. The next time Smart Park is activated; the device debits the card for the last parking fee and recalculates the card's new balance.
4. If the card is stolen or lost, can it be used by someone else?
Yes, as long as the finder owns a Smart Park device. The card is like cash!
5. What type of Smart Cards are usually available to the driver?
Depending on the city of residence the driver gets to choose Smart Cards of various values (e.g. € 50 and €100). The cards can be disposable or re-loadable
6. Does the card need to remain in the Smart Park device during the parking event?
No. The card is like cash and should always be held by the motorist. The card must be inserted into the Smart Park meter to set up the parking event but should be withdrawn before the meter will start to function. The card should not be left in the Smart Park device while parking.
7. What if the Smart Park meter is stolen?
The meter without the card is worthless. The thief will have to buy a prepaid smart card , and by the time he does, it if the theft is reported, he might be caught as each of the meters has a unique serial number
8. What would cause Smart Park to reject a card?
Smart Park would reject a card that was not inserted properly, that had no money in it or that was not an authorized parking card.
9. How long will Smart Park operate before battery failure?
Smart Park is designed to operate for at least 800 hours of normal operation. When the batteries voltage drops below a given voltage, an LCD indicator warning is activated. Spare batteries should be kept on hand and replacement is simple.
10. What are the major advantages of Smart Park to a municipality?
No initial investment, no operational cost, no maintenance, vandalism free, parking data reports and pre paid income.
11. Can the same Smart Card be used by different cities?
Yes , but it will require that the cities involved will agree on a method for the distribution of the revenue
12. How secure is the system?
The Smart Park systems is already deployed in over 60 cities worldwide , The system comprises the latest developments in security technology
13. Can the motorist rely on Smart Park to charge only for chargeable hours?
Yes. The motorist does not need to learn the parking regulations because Smart Park is programmed to charge correctly regardless of when the meter was activated. The parking zones and regulations are programed into the device so the correct charge is automatically deducted from the bank.
14. When Smart Park is operated what does the LCD display?
The LCD display will alternate between the selected zone designation and the time remaining to park (or the time parked), for inspection purposes.
15. Where is Smart Park mounted for inspection?
We suggest mounting Smart Park on the rear view mirror, or on one of the handles above the side door windows
16. If a summons was unjustly issued, can this be verified for corrective action?
Yes, the summons can be verified because historical parking data is saved on the card.
17. Will the card be completely used?
Yes, the way the Smart Park system us used the motorist can use the Smart Card up to the last penny!
18. How does the driver know at what zone he is parking?
The city has to install the required signs to indicate the proper zone and the motorist should receive a city map designating the various parking zones with the Smart Park
19. What is the function of the Parking Control Unit (PCU)?
The PCU is used by the parking warden for enforcement purposes. Using an IR link the inspector can communicate with the Smart Park meter and verify information such a correct time, zone, device serial number etc
20. Must the Parking warden use the PCU for enforcement?
No, most of the inspections will be done using the LCD display and the two LED’s (Green and Red)
21. What are the possible business models for deploying a Smart Park system?
The city can provide the meters under a variety of commercial terms for example:
- Provide the meter against a deposit
- Charge a one time administrative fee and a deposit
- Sell the unit at full price but provide incentives in the form of free parking hours/reduced rates
- Provide the meters at no charge and increase the cost of parking hours
- Sell the device at full price
22. If a card had very little money left in it, could the next parking event be executed?
This depends on the credit limit that the municipality wishes to implement. Some municipalities enable a parking event even if one cent remains in the card. Other municipalities may enable parking only if more than $1.00 remains in the card.
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