Addressing urban parking challenges with smart solutions
The Challenge
Cities worldwide grapple with the daunting challenge of accommodating the burgeoning parking needs of urban freight and delivery vehicles, exacerbating issues of traffic congestion, urban mobility, air quality, and overall citizen and commercial driver well-being, particularly concerning last mile deliveries.
The escalating demand for parking spaces dedicated to last mile delivery accentuates problems such as vehicles parking without permits or overstaying in loading zones, alongside the inherent difficulties and expenses associated with parking enforcement in these areas.
This conundrum contributes to the persistent congestion, pollution, and a lack of environmental regulations. Compounded by a dearth of data for comprehensive analysis and optimisation of public/private space usage, cities face low parking turnover and the arduous task of locating available parking spots, further complicating the situation.
The Solution
Parkunload, founded in 2017 presents a comprehensive digital solution to tackle the challenges posed by urban freight and delivery vehicle parking. Through a fully digital platform, the App enables the creation, regulation, control, and optimisation of short-term parking zones specifically tailored for loading and unloading activities, as well as for promoting local commerce.
In collaboration with EIT Urban Mobility, Parkunload has yielded significant progress in addressing urban parking challenges in the city of Torrelavega (Cantabria) in Spain. To adapt to the city's requirements, Parkunload has expanded its capabilities with tailored add-on features designed to further optimise parking management and enforcement. Some of the features promote sustainable delivery practices by commercial drivers while streamlining enforcement processes for parking agents.
Overall, the pilot project carried out by Parkunload fostered a culture of compliance and accountability among drivers, contributing to a more orderly and efficient urban parking ecosystem. It also facilitated the work for parking agents and provided cities with information and tools to analyse parking patterns and plan interventions.
