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Parking has long been managed through fixed rules: pay before you stay, don’t exceed the time limit, and expect a citation if you do. But that model rarely reflects how people actually behave. The shift toward behavioral parking is about bridging that gap—creating systems that respond to real usage rather than rigid expectations. At the heart of behavioral parking is one simple idea: charge based on how people actually use the space. Instead of guessing how long they’ll stay or rushing back to feed a meter, drivers park and go about their business. The system tracks their actual behavior—start time, end time, duration—and charges accordingly. This shift solves a long-standing issue: underpayment and non-compliance that doesn’t always come from bad intent, but from confusion, unpredictability, or inflexible systems. Rather than focusing on enforcement and punishment, behavioral models recover revenue by adapting to the parker—not the other way around. In environments like universities, city centers, and hospitality, where stay durations vary widely, this approach offers fairness and financial sustainability. Operators gain more accurate data, fewer disputes, and ultimately, better compliance without increasing friction. Behavioral parking is not just about technology—it’s about trust. When people feel that parking is transparent and reasonable, they're more likely to engage honestly with it. And when systems are built around real-life behavior, everyone benefits….. We’re no longer just managing space. We are managing people…and adjusting to real behavior to reduce violations. Trystan Henry, PECP, is the Vice President of Business Development for ParkEngage. Trystan can be reached at trystan.henry@parkengage.com.

California’s Vehicle Code, which sets the rules for driving and stopping vehicles throughout the state, has tens of thousands of sections. Not surprisingly, some of those sections are relics of the time they were adopted, and do not reflect the evolution—or even allow the use—of new technologies. One example is Section 22508(e).  Until December 31, 2024, this section required cities to use physical parking meters or pay stations if they wanted to charge for on-street parking.  Thanks to SB 532, sponsored by State Senator Scott Wiener, three cities (Santa Monica, Long Beach, and San Francisco) may now pilot paid parking without a physical meter or pay station.  https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB532.  In the last few years, mobile and online payment have exploded for products from coffee to concert tickets to car insurance.  More than 16% of all retail products are purchased online today, an increase from around 7% ten years ago.  https://ycharts.com/indicators/us_ecommerce_sales_as_percent_retail_sales. And according to a November 2024 report from the Pew Research Center: “The vast majority of Americans – 98% – now own a cellphone of some kind,” and 91% own a smart phone.  https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/.  SB 532 reflects the reality of how payments are made in 2025, and allows cities in California to keep up with the private sector—not to mention other cities around the country (like Doral, Florida and Columbus, Ohio) that offer mobile-only parking payment zones.  And it does all this while respecting California values, requiring an “Equitable and Accessible Parking Cash Payment Plan” to ensure non-mobile phone users have a way to pay with cash. Allowing cities to modernize their payment systems saves money on infrastructure purchase and maintenance.  Meters and pay stations are expensive to procure and keep in good working order, and can be targets for vandalism and fraud.  While meters and pay stations may ultimately prove to be an indispensable part of an equitable and robust on-street parking payment system, allowing cities to experiment with modern technology can only lead to improvements for customers and the public.  It will be fascinating to see how SB 532’s three pilot cities (and others that may be added) exercise this new opportunity.  And the answers will come sooner than we think: their pilot authority expires in 2033. Hank Willson is a Parking Policy Manager for the City and County of San Francisco, California (SFMTA). Hank can be reached at Hank.Willson@sfmta.com.  

Finding a parking space shouldn’t be a daily challenge. Yet drivers in urban areas waste countless hours circling for parking spots. This costs cities billions in emissions and lost productivity. About 30% of urban traffic comes from people searching for parking. This results in congestion, frustration, and noise and air pollution. Smart parking technologies and digital mapping are transforming this struggle into a seamless experience. For example, some IoT-enabled maps have directed drivers to open spaces and cut congestion by up to 40%. At UCLA, color-coded digital pathways streamlined foot traffic, reducing bottlenecks at entry gates. But it doesn’t stop there. Real-time parking sensors are now guiding drivers inside garages, making the process far less stressful. Admins have real-time insights, tracking traffic flow, monitoring dwell times, and space closures. For visitors, their journey starts at home. Smart parking technology and digital mapping gets them to their destination, eliminating the guesswork. Some wayfinding apps allow users to mark where they parked, helping them easily navigate back to their vehicle after an event, appointment, or meeting—eliminating common frustrations and saving time. Most facilities rely on disconnected systems. Newer platforms aim to unify these capabilities across kiosks, mobile apps, desktops, and web portals. Integration with tools like payment processors, databases, and ticketing systems helps ensure that parking, mobility, and visitor engagement work together as part of a smart, connected experience. The result? A smoother commute, faster parking, and a better experience for everyone. Join the Discussion How are you tackling parking chaos? Learn more by clicking here. Ally Spinu is the Vice President of Business Development for Vicinia.io. Ally can be reached at ally@vicinia.io.

This summer, we took my 9 year old daughter Elizabeth to Bozeman, Montana to go to the Museum of the Rockies and to tour Montana State University.  Why?  Because she’s wanted to be a paleontologist since she was 3 years old and her father and I thought, “Why not introduce her to a real paleontologist and see real fossils?”  I told her some time ago, that whatever she wants in life, she’s going to have to get it for herself.  No one is going to do the work for her.  While watching a documentary on Dinosaurs on the Curiosity app, she asked me a ton of questions I couldn’t answer.  “Well, there is a paleontologist in the documentary, let’s ask him.” I showed her how to look him up (professionally speaking of course) and how to correspond with him, and within a few short weeks she received an invite to tour the Montana State University campus and to meet real grad students in the field and see a real lab. Someone referred to me as her career coach.  I don’t know about that.  But what I do know, is that I want to teach my daughter that she controls her future.  Opportunities were out there for her to take, but she has to find them and put in the work.  That’s true whether it’s career opportunities, advancement, networking, upskilling, or even becoming really good at something. And trust me when I say, the fact I am saying this from a place of power and a certain level of privilege is not lost on me.  But she doesn’t have the same privilege that I have.  She is disabled, classified as such through her Autism or her hearing impairment, and needs assistance to help her navigate the world.  At 9 that looks like therapy for her anxiety and emotional regulation, as well as hearing aids to help her hear and better communicate with the world around her.  Her world consists of medications, modifications, accommodations, and the never ending explanations of things she just doesn’t understand, despite her 10th grade reading level and knack for Algebra. Resilience is what is going to get her through life.  Resilience will mean the difference between going through the motions or living life to its fullest.  Resilience is what is going to lead her to her happiness. And I will be there every step of the way as her biggest cheerleader, and as the shoulder she needs to bury her face in and cry into.  The rest will be up to her. And just to show her life isn’t always about “chasing the dream”, we zigged when we should have zagged and made a pit stop at Yellowstone on a whim.  Because life, as with parking, is also full of unexpected adventures. Adrienne Tucker, PTMP, is the Director of Parking and Transportation for Kansas State University. Adrienne can be reached at adriennetucker@ksu.edu.

At airports across the country, rideshare operations are essential – but increasingly difficult to manage. Limited curb space and high passenger volumes—especially during peak travel times—often lead to severe congestion, roadway backups, and long wait times for travelers. Without proper planning and infrastructure, rideshare pickups can quickly turn into a logistical headache for both airports and guests.

Shared parking is a key strategy in urban planning and development, offering innovative solutions to challenges like traffic congestion and inefficient land use. By maximizing the utilization of existing parking spaces, shared parking supports sustainability and improves the quality of urban life. Shared parking utilizes the same space for different parkers maximizing turnover and utilization of one space within 24 hours, minimizing unnecessary urban sprawl. Shared parking minimizes the need for expansive parking structures, freeing up valuable land that can be repurposed for green spaces, housing, or businesses. This promotes more sustainable, efficient land use. By maximizing turnover or utilization of existing parking spaces, shared parking reduces the need for new parking facilities, reducing the time drivers spend searching for parking. This will alleviate traffic, reduce emissions, improve air quality, providing a more sustainable and healthier environment. The parking consultant who specializes in calculating custom shared parking can reduce parking counts by 35% in some cases, encouraging Park Once and multimodal systems, resulting in fewer parking spaces, thus fostering creativity and flexibility for public spaces and urban design. Lia Reyes is a Managing Director and Sr. Principal Consultant for LVR International. Lia can be reached at lia@lvrintl.com.

Parking has a reputation problem. Many motorists perceive parking as penalizing, confusing, and expensive. That perception has persisted for over a century, dating back to the earliest parking meters and tickets. And while parking management technology has advanced tremendously in that time, enforcement models have remained largely unchanged. Other industries have made notable strides in improving the customer experience. Airlines offer miles. Car insurance companies reward safe driving. Banks and credit card companies provide cashback and loyalty perks. The list goes on. Over time, these industries have helped influence positive consumer behavior by establishing trust and long-term customer relationships. Parking can draw inspiration from these industries. At IPMI 2025, leaders from Park Loyalty and RISETEK presented a packed session exploring customer loyalty programs for parking. How can the parking experience reward compliance? What if local businesses gained new ways to engage customers? Picture this: a driver pays to park and receives a coupon from a nearby café. Or they earn a small perk, like a discount on dry cleaning, just for consistently following parking rules. Even parking tickets could become less painful if timely payment leads to a future discount. These simple ideas can shift public perception of parking, promote compliance, and foster new community connections to local businesses. This model introduces a “value triangle” between agencies, drivers, and merchants. Everyone contributes, and everyone benefits. Cities and universities see better compliance. Motorists feel appreciated. Local businesses attract more visitors. This isn’t just a concept. Modern parking platforms can support these strategies. Programs can be agency-branded, tailored to local needs, and integrated into existing systems without disrupting enforcement or revenue. The future holds that parking can still be fair and well-managed while building trust instead of resentment. Full recap: https://parkloyalty.com/parking-rewards-changing-enforcement-for-better-compliance/ Julia Scholl is a Marketing Manager for Park Loyalty. Julia can be reached at julia.scholl@parkloyalty.com.

The International Parking and Mobility Institute (IPMI) Conference is always a chance to spot what’s next in parking and mobility (and maybe a little of what’s not working yet). This year was Peter Richards' 5th year attending (and 1st since he founded Parkicity), and it delivered everything from live drone feeds at NFL stadiums to lessons on permit data pitfalls. Here are a few key takeaways from IPMI in Louisville. I've been saying it wrong all this time! Permits, Pilots, and Parking Near Stadiums On a tour near the Louisville City FC soccer stadium, we heard about a Residential Permit Parking (RPP) program that was launched - and then quickly shut down - because residents said they weren’t notified. But they were. The area, once home to a car junkyard, now hosts 2,200 gravel lot spaces and has big redevelopment plans for retail and apartments. But enforcement and event planning challenges remain. People park for free far from the stadium, and attempts at event programming (like concerts) have literally torn up the turf. It should also be noted that Louisville is a multi-vendor paid parking app, meaning visitors have the choice of their favourite app. Pick an app, any app From LPR to Insight: The Dirty Work Behind Clean Data A major thread at the conference was data and how to collect occupancy, 24/7 or periodically. One presentation highlighted the benefits but also the complexity of turning license plate recognition (LPR) and camera data into useful information. The raw feeds - LPR scans, citations, permits, payment transactions, even drone images need serious cleanup: Enforcement schedules can skew what’s captured Sensor coverage is patchy, especially beyond pay stations License plates need fuzzy matching (is that a Z or a 2?) Metadata like vehicle type or duration is often missing Privacy measures must anonymize plates before analysis One theme emerged: “Data should inform decisions, not lead them.” Cities need “before and after” metrics - occupancy, permits issued, citation volume, and compliance - to prove that a permit or pay program solves an actual problem. Hayes Valley’s “Pay or Permit” program in San Francisco came up as a model, built on three pillars: Most parkers aren’t local Most non-residents are overstaying Occupancy is consistently high Toronto’s Parking Tech and EV Future The City of Toronto shared its evolving mobility landscape - and how parking is still part of the story. A few standout stats and ideas: One lot near Spadina added Purolator parcel lockers and increased revenue by 33%. Multi-functional lots add value 50% of EV charging users lived within 1km of the charger, 57% of users live within 5 km They’ve processed 50,000 new EV transactions Long-term goal: reduce from 3,100 to 2,000 meters - but keep them for the next decade One big idea or dream floated by the TPA VP of Operations: a future monthly bundle for parking, transit, and bike share access. Not here yet - but the bundling / Mobility as a Service joint offering conversation is getting louder. Digital Curb Challenges from Seattle to Boston Cities are still figuring out how to digitize the curb. A few shared challenges: Cameras are tricky to deploy due to mounting, power, and departmental silos Cyclomedia and Cartegraph are used in Boston, but 20% of signs were missing from digital records Trucks and passing vehicles can feed false data into sensors or AI Even with real-time availability, Minneapolis noted delivery drivers likely wouldn’t use this information - routes, schedule, and habits matter more Seattle’s commercial load zone data showed 80% of vehicles were parked illegally, underscoring that enforcement is essential - especially for small businesses that rely on load zones for survival. It was stressed that the management of these commercial loading zones is a key factor to the value of the permit and if they would actually buy the monthly permits Seattle released the CurbIQ digital curb inventory and real-time information of these load zones, and it's super cool: https://seattle.curbiq.io/public-default/ Brian Hamlin from Seattle DOT showing up their real-time public map link NFL Game Day Parking is a Logistics Masterclass Walter P Moore walked us through the logistics of managing 26,000 spaces on NFL game day at the Houston Texans' NRG Stadium: 21,000 spaces are used by fans, the rest for staff, media, and other “back of house” roles Rideshare lots, pedestrian plans, and cashless mobile passes are all part of the playbook “Eyes on approach and egress” with roaming vehicles is key Staff use active guidance to manage entry and exit flow Most fans are parked 15 minutes after kickoff, and the lots are cleared within 1 hour after the game Could Parkalytics and their drone parking surveys support live feed monitoring or drone mapping here in the future? Something for event management planners to consider. Ushering in the New Curbside Management Era: How to Transition from Parking to Curbside Management The Curb Super Group! This municipal workshop was led by experts from Minneapolis, Miami Parking Authority, Washington DC, Fairfax County, City of Richmond (and Parkicity), and centered around various burning questions and issues municipalities are having at the curbside, from policy and regulations, to simply digitizing and mapping their curbs. Despite various sized municipalities, the issues were similar - staffing, budgets, politics, prioritization, coordination, data ownership, and communication Cities want to digitize their curb, but need internal champions Solutions discussed included budgeting for curb-related digitization and studies, using software to aid the process, and starting small with pilots Final Thoughts There’s no single path to modern curbside management, but the ingredients include items such as strong data foundations, clear goals and objectives, city buy-in from top to bottom, smart tech applications, and responsive operations. Open Mobility Foundation bike ride Have questions on any of these takeaways or want to test out some of these strategies in your city? Let’s talk. Peter Richards, P.Eng., is the President and Principal Consultant for Parkicity. Peter can be reached at pete@parkicity.com. This blog is republished with permission from Parkicity: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/volume-8-what-we-learned-ipmi-2025-data-drones-game-day-drama-5jxjc/  

Every year, heading to the IPMI Conference feels a bit like getting in line for a roller coaster for me. There’s that initial moment—right before it all begins—where you wonder how it’s going to go. You’re excited, sure, but there’s also that quiet buzz of nerves in the background. Then you arrive. You start bumping into familiar faces—old friends, colleagues, people you’ve only seen through the computer screen for the past year. Conversations start flowing, and before you know it, you’re in the groove. The energy of the event takes over. You’re swapping ideas, learning from others, and soaking in the buzz of the expo floor where vendors are showing off new technology – and a tiny horse, did anyone see that too?! Just when you’re feeling fully at home, it’s time to present. The nerves creep back in—but this time, they’re different. You and your co-presenter step up, deliver your session, and walk away knowing you nailed it. That’s a high that’s hard to beat. The whole experience is a whirlwind—ups, downs, adrenaline, inspiration. It’s a reminder of why we do what we do. You leave feeling energized by the new connections, the fresh ideas, and the sense that you’re part of something bigger. Sure, there’s never enough time to see and do it all, but that’s part of the magic. We come together at IPMI not just to learn, but to grow—together. And every year, that ride is worth it. Nick Mazzenga is a Parking Technology Consultant for Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. Nick can be reached at nick.mazzenga@kimley-horn.com.

Over the last decade, parking technology has evolved at a faster rate than in any other period of history. The IPMI Technology Committee has been there every step of the way, helping the parking and mobility community navigate through the lightning-fast changes. This session took a retrospective look at the evolution of parking technology by revisiting our past Technology Committee presentations, exploring how various parking technologies were developed, identifying the catalysts that facilitated their adoption, and the barriers that hindered others.

IPMI’s Planning, Design, and Construction committee hosted a member roundtable focused on parking-related design and construction trends, including commercial real estate market costs and technologies that affect how garages and PARCs systems are designed.

If there’s one thing the UK parking sector has taught me, it’s this: the best technology doesn’t work in isolation. When systems speak to each other, from cashless platforms to ANPR to enforcement tools, the result is a smoother journey for the user and far less friction for the operator. But here in the US, I’ve noticed that this kind of integration isn’t always the norm. In fact, many parking operations are being held back by siloed systems that don’t share data, don’t connect, and don’t evolve. It’s time to change that. The Challenge of Disconnected Systems Over the last decade in the UK, I’ve witnessed a quiet revolution in how parking tech works behind the scenes. Operators moved from clunky, standalone tools to integrated platforms that unify enforcement, payments, permits, and reporting. And the benefits were immediate: reduced manual input, fewer disputes, better compliance rates, and, crucially, an improved user experience. Since working in the US, I’m hearing familiar stories of fragmented workflows. A motorist pays to park via one app, but that data doesn’t flow through to the enforcement team’s handheld device. A permit is issued in one back office, while citations are managed in another. Operators are stuck manually reconciling systems that should be working in concert. This isn’t just inconvenient, it’s operationally risky. Disconnected systems can lead to erroneous enforcement, a poor public perception, and significant resource drain. As enforcement becomes more complex and user expectations rise, it’s no longer enough to have ‘good enough’ systems. They have to work together and be able to be configured. The Power of an Integrated Approach Achieving seamless integration isn't merely about adding a new feature to existing software; it's about adopting a fundamental shift in how parking operations are conceived and managed. It means moving towards open, configurable systems that prioritize interoperability. This approach allows operators to connect various existing tools and data sources, rather than requiring a complete overhaul. The goal is to create a cohesive ecosystem where all components communicate effectively, optimizing efficiency and accuracy. Why This Matters for the US As US cities and private operators modernize, there’s a real opportunity to leapfrog the fragmented model and move straight to smart, connected systems. Integration-ready platforms don’t just manage enforcement — they enable better collaboration between data sources, departments, and vendors. From the curb to the control room, the value of a unified system is hard to ignore: fewer errors, better accountability, and systems that scale with your operation, not against it. And as we look ahead to the 2025 IPMI Conference & Expo in Louisville, I’m excited to be part of that conversation in person. I’ll be there with Unity5, ready to meet US operators, technology partners, and anyone interested in making their parking operations smarter, not harder. If your systems aren’t speaking to each other, or worse, if they’re speaking different languages, it might be time to rethink what your tech should do for you. Because in parking, as in life, the best results come when we work together. Hannah Fuller is the Director of Commercial Strategy and Partnerships for Unity5. Hannah can be reached at hannah.fuller@unity5.com.