Motorists in Cardiff can now find out on their phone or in-vehicle infotainment system if there is a parking space on major city centre streets.
In a move which could transform how residents, visitors and commuters park their car in Cardiff, The City of Cardiff Council is working with Smart Parking Ltd, to carry out a pilot scheme testing how effective this new technology is for the Welsh Capital.
Cardiff will be the first city to use this technology on street, outside London.
The project uses 225 Smart Parking RFID-equipped SmartEye vehicle detection sensors, linked via SmartLink data transmitters, in selected parking bays across the Capital.
The pilot area includes West Grove, The Walk, Museum Avenue, North Road, Museum Place, Park Place, Wellfield Road, Albany Road, Severn Road Car Park and Sofia Gardens Car Park access road to the car park.
The sensors know if there is a vehicle above or not and sends the wireless data to a nearbye transmitter which feeds it to phones requesting the information
The SmartApp is now available to download via an iPhone or Android device. When you download the app, you just need to enter ‘Cardiff’ in the search engine.
Chose ‘Satellite’ mode and you will see the areas of the city where the new technology has been installed.
The icons that show as green – indicate available spaces where you can park your car. Amber and red icons indicate areas where parking is already taken.
Motorists have contributed to Welsh councils making over £9m profit from parking charges last year, according to figures.
The total is up by more than £600,000 on 2013-14 and the RAC Foundation said the 22 local authorities should be managing congestion, not raising cash with Cardiff making almost £3 Million and Swansea £1.25 Million.
