Introducing a mobile payment system for parking
Summary
The demonstration measure aimed to introduce a new parking system, using innovative technologies for more flexible and cost-effective on-street parking management.
Implementing sustainable mobility
Among the goals of Berlin’s Urban Development Transport Plan are the extension of the parking management area and the promotion of new technologies in implementing more flexible demand-dependent pricing schemes in the future.
At the start of the project period, a large number of on-street parking ticket machines were in use for the payment of parking fees. The new mobile parking system was designed to demonstrate the benefits of a telematics-based solution for efficient parking management, benefiting drivers, enforcement agencies and the city authorities.
Progress
The supplier, Mobile Parking GmbH, implemented a field trial for a system based on mobile phone technology. Drivers and enforcement agencies relied on mobile phones: a service centre automatically registered the duration of users’ parking period and charged them accordingly. City officials received anonymous statistical data for the parking transactions that occurred within their jurisdiction. The parking fees collected under the new system were virtual — that is, instead of coins inserted into parking meters, the fees were paid once per month by bank transfer.
Outcomes
- The parking management areas Berlin City-West and Berlin Mitte were selected for the pilot project.
- The pilot project ran from February 2004 to March 2006.
- More than 6,800 users were registered, and approximately 600 mobile parking transactions were carried out per day.
- In September 2005, the service was extended to four districts of Berlin. Users were able to pay their parking fees via mobile phone throughout the parking management area of the city of Berlin.
