Beijing looks for smart solutions to solve city’s parking problems
Authorities planning system that will show drivers where there are free spaces and allow them to pay for parking via smartphone
Beijing is set to tackle its parking problem with a new smart system which will provide real-time guidance to motorists, state media reported on Tuesday.
Nearly a quarter of the capital’s motor vehicles – 1.3 million out of 5.7 million – regularly struggle to find parking places, People’s Daily reported.
Citizens often complain about the cost of street parking and small car parks, Zhou Zhengyu, head of Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, told reporters.
The smartphone system will allow drivers to find available parking spaces near them and pay their parking fees with a digital wallet.
The city’s transport commission will provide a live map of all car parks and guide motorists to them in an attempt to cut the time-consuming and often frustrating process of driving around looking for a free spot.
Beijing will also increase the supply of car parks by constructing new ones and transforming old buildings into car parks.
Small parking providers will install the technology needed to join the smart parking network.
Cai Qi, the Beijing party chief, said in a meeting last December that the city’s parking problem could be solved by a smart platform operated by state-run companies.
The system will be developed by Beijing Static Traffic Platform, which was founded on November 5 by state-run companies under the guidance of the city’s government, Economic Daily reported.
A delivery date for the new system has not been released.
Shareholders such as Beijing Capital Highway Development Group, and steel giant Shougang Corporation – all state-owned companies – will contribute their own expertise to the system.
