Complications with parking management at universities are not necessarily caused by a lack of parking spaces, but can stem from poor space design, traffic congestion in the area and a lack of sustainable policies. Any of these details can have a major impact on safety and mobility on campus, as well as on the perception of the institution.
Design and congestion problems
Campuses that have been gradually expanding over the years are often an example of how the design of the space was not taken into account at the time of the expansion. This generates a series of mobility problems.
Lack of delimited spaces
The lines for parking spaces were not very visible, even absent at certain points, which encourages students, teachers and visitors to take the liberty of improvised parking. This creates blockages and reduces the actual capacity of the area.
Poorly located traffic nodes
When a parking area does not have well-defined entrances and exits, it is easy to create traffic jams during rush hour. If traffic nodes are not well located, vehicular flow is interrupted or not as efficient, causing drivers to waste time.
3. Inappropriate paving
It may seem like a lesser evil, but worn or unsuitable surfaces can damage vehicles and cause discomfort to people walking in the area. Depending on the condition of the pavement, it could even pose a safety risk to pedestrians.
4. Pedestrian safety
Beyond the unevenness that can cause tripping, the lack of regulation and separation between the areas where vehicles circulate and pedestrians walk increases the probability of accidents, especially if drivers are distracted looking for a space.
Imbalance between supply and demand
Traffic congestion can arise both because of an improvable management or design and because of an imbalance between the supply of places and the real demand. In these cases, if it is not possible to expand, it would be advisable to opt for a bilateral approach that resolves the points mentioned below and promotes the use of alternative transport.
1. Rates too low
When parking fees are low, the opposite of the intended effect can be achieved. This often encourages overuse of spaces, leading to overcrowding, i.e., too many cars trying to park for the space available.
Lack of sustainable alternatives
The lack of policies that encourage the use of more sustainable alternative transport, such as bicycles or public transport, perpetuates dependence on the private car. With the right measures, it is possible to combine both methods and reduce congestion.
3. Limited economic planning
Revenues generated by the parking area do not cover maintenance, repair and improvement of the infrastructure, making it difficult to address the deterioration of the facilities and solve other problems to improve the user experience.
Impact of parking space management in universities
When parking space management is not carried out in the most ideal way, congestion becomes a chronic problem that affects mobility on and off campus. It also triggers an increase in bad driving and parking practices, making it easier to see risky maneuvers that can lead to accidents, as well as the blocking of emergency access or pedestrian areas.
These situations end up having a direct impact on the reputation of the university in question, undermining the satisfaction of students and educational staff. It is no longer seen as an attractive educational institution for prospective students. However, it is possible to solve all these complications with smart parking solutions.
1. Digitalization of the parking lot
Intelligent parking management technologies have proven to be of great help in improving space utilization, enhancing driver experience and overall service management. While smart sensors and detection cameras identify available spaces in real time, the mobile apps to which they are connected allow drivers to locate them. In this way, they do not need to spend as much time driving around unnecessarily to park or resort to improvisation.
On the other hand, the administrative management systems linked to these devices provide data on usage trends for realistic decision making, in line with user needs.
Parking guidance solution for universities
2. Intelligent management policies
To balance supply and demand, it is necessary to implement strategies that regulate parking use, such as dynamic rates that fluctuate according to demand to reduce saturation and help generate revenue for area maintenance. Similarly, alternatives such as bicycle use can be incentivized through subsidies, discounts on public transport and carpooling programs. It is not a bad idea to combine this with systems that allow parking reservations in advance to speed up the process.
3. Infrastructure redesign
Finally, with a well-designed infrastructure, it is possible to maximize capacity by improving the distribution of parking spaces, marking them so that it is clear where they are located and relocating traffic nodes. It is also necessary to have a good pavement that prolongs the useful life of the infrastructure and to separate pedestrian and vehicular areas to ensure the safety of those who circulate or walk along it.
In short, by adopting the right solutions and policies, it is possible to improve the management of parking spaces and transform the campus into a safe and sustainable environment. At Urbiotica, we can provide all the tools for intelligent parking guidance and control. We have different technologies that can be combined with each other to adjust the solution to the real needs of the university.
