Dear omss,
It's a well known fact that Europe is renowned for their fast, sleek, state-of-the-art sports cars, but did you know that they're also ahead of the times in parking? It's true. Leading the way in the parking industry, they've reduced free parking, increased revenue, instilled the "bigger isn't always better" mentality, and created easy, accurate, less stress parking facilities.
How have they done all this you ask? Well, it didn't happen overnight, but the developments they've implemented are getting noticed. This issue of The Source is dedicated to reviewing European advancements and what we can take away from their achievements. |
| Rethink Free Parking Although free parking employs the word "free," free parking isn't necessarily free. Think about the loss of wasted fuel spent while searching for available parking or the cost involved in maintaining and managing a facility. As Ward Vleugels outlines in The logic behind paid parking, most of Europe is working to discontinue offering free parking in an effort to counteract incurred management and maintenance expenses, increase mobility, prevent automobile dependence, decrease CO2 emissions, and increase profits. Bottom line? Paid parking is a win/win! For Ward's full article, click here. |
| Downsize: "Bigger Isn't Always Better" There was a time and place where bigger was better, but as the world shifts its attention to growing environmental concerns, a lack of resources, and mounting costs associated with supply and demand, we, too, must shift our views and rethink transportation. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Most of Europe has already employed these small changes that produce big results. |
 | Reward Compact Cars | Most Europeans opt for smaller, compact cars that allow a multitude of parking options a clunky SUV wouldn't be able to take advantage of. Europe's love for the space-saving compact car not only gives the driver more parking options, but impacts the industry as well. Downsized cars allow for the design of smaller parking spaces (Europe's approximately 7.8ft x 15.7ft vs. America's 9ft x 18-19ft) and smaller spaces make room for additional parking bays.
Promote the use of smaller, space saving cars by offering more compact spaces or providing small car discount incentives. After all, the more space you can save and employ, the higher your revenue potential becomes.
Want to further optimize space? Deployed intelligent parking guidance systems, like McCain's, allow for the utilization of every single space. Visit McCain to find out more. |
 | Utilize Alternate Energy | Talk about being ahead of the game, later this year Nissan will introduce the LEAF electric vehicle (EV) to the American public; however, Europe has been touting the technology since 2001. Most countries are issuing amazing incentives to get these compact, environmentally friendly cars noticed, and there's supplemental revenue to be made through offering EV charging stations.
If you haven't already, consider installing EV charging stations to make your facility the place to park and charge, resulting in a revenue boost and increased customer satisfaction. |
 | Support Other Transportation Means | Look chic and fashionable on a motorcycle, glide into your destination on a Vespa, or get fit riding a bicycle through the city. These are just a few of the popular alternative transportation options Europeans employ daily. The high cost of parking, coupled with limited space and enticing incentives, makes alternative transportation the norm.
Parking establishments in Europe promote these alternative means of transportation by offering designated spaces at a discount. These spaces allow for higher volume, resulting in higher net income for facility owners and operators. |
| Offer Easy Parking All across Europe, parking companies are employing intelligent parking solutions to simplify parking processes and improve the parking experience for drivers. Parking guidance solutions, like the McCain Parking Guidance System provide easy, accurate, cost effective ways to efficiently manage parking spaces and traffic flow to optimize capacity, while providing drivers with a positive parking experience. |
| Add McCain to your growing social network. |
McCain Solution
See how McCain can help you advance your parking structure technology. 
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University of San Diego Selects McCain, Inc. for Parking Facility Update. For the full article, click here. Boston, MA October 11-14, 2010 |
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