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March 30, 2006
Real information technology innovation
Forget downloading the latest hot song or text messaging your friends 24/7 or even downloading the latest scores. Here is a new cell phone use that real people (i.e. anyone over about 25) can use - "Your Space Is Waiting: Reserving a Parking Spot":
Taking a cue from Web-based reservation systems used by restaurants, airlines and movie theaters, more companies and cities are offering services that let people reserve parking spaces online or by cellphone.The services come as traffic is growing worse around the country and are meant to help ease the traffic tie-ups caused by drivers cruising for a parking spot on the street, where charges tend to be lower than garage rates. In downtown areas, based on studies from cities around the world, about 30% of traffic results from drivers searching for curbside parking spots, says Donald Shoup, a professor of urban planning at the University of California, Los Angeles.
According to this Wall Street Journal story, cities from Boston to Lincoln, Neb. are setting up systems to call and park -- or at least find out where spaces are available.
Now, that is innovation.
Posted by Ken Jarboe at March 30, 2006 12:08 PM
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