Cities are currently facing and will in the future face a series of challenges related to mobility and coexistence among all users: from the circulation of all types of vehicles, including personal mobility vehicles (PMV) to pedestrians, including the use of parking spaces in streets and car parks, and within this specific aspect, solutions for the control and management of parking spaces for people with reduced mobility (PRM) must be found.
It is true that, if one looks and analyses carefully, cities are not fully accessible for people with reduced mobility or with some type of functional diversity; getting around urban centres is difficult for the blind or wheelchair users. Attention must therefore be paid in this second case to drivers who have parking cards for people with reduced mobility and to their rights.
Especially when finding a parking space is difficult in cities due to the limited number of spaces and the fact that reserved spaces are often and repeatedly taken by unauthorised users, despite the fines. As fraud is committed in the undue use of reserved spaces, good control is necessary, otherwise, the day-to-day life of vulnerable groups is seriously harmed.
The most effective way to do this is by applying technologies and solutions developed by companies such as Urbiotica, like the Fastpark solutions that direct authorised users to free spaces and alert parking surveillance services when unauthorised users park in them.
What parking spaces for people with reduced mobility are like
Parking spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility are granted to wheelchair users, people in need of two walking sticks, those with serious intellectual disabilities, or people who find it difficult to move around obstacles or use staircases.
For this reason, these reserved spaces play a key role for this group and are of specific dimensions for them to use easily and independently. They must be located as close as possible to entrances to establishments such as shopping centres or work offices. They are arranged perpendicularly or diagonally to the pavement, and are at least 5 metres long by 2.20 metres wide.
These people are entitled to apply for a reserved parking space near their home, workplace or place of study. These are public road occupancy permits with exclusive reservation for individual vehicle parking, and they can only be used in association with a particular registration.
PRM cards: what are they and what are they for?
For the reserved use of these parking spaces, this group can apply for the PRM card, a personal and non-transferable identification card that allows them to park without limitations in the areas reserved for people with reduced mobility in Spain and other countries of the European Union.
The use of PRM cards is allowed in any vehicle in which the holder travels, but they must always be present when it is used. Even so, there is the problem of forgery of these cards for fraudulent use.
ParkCTRL, solution for the management of PRM parking spaces
With this in mind, at Urbiotica we have developed a smart solution to manage and control parking spaces reserved for PRM, a necessary development not only due to misuse by unauthorised users, but also due to the invasion of part of these parking spaces by other vehicles when parking.
How does Fastprk work? This solution provides an exhaustive control of the use of the PRM parking spaces, ensuring proper use and compliance with the established regulations. When a space is occupied by an unauthorised user, an alert is sent to the parking attendants through the ParkCTRL app. They are therefore immediately aware of violations, which reduces the costs associated with the control of parking spaces and increases availability.
Use of U-Spot sensors and communication networks
This 360º solution uses U-Spot sensors, buried magnetic sensors or detection software using cameras and Artificial Intelligence, which detect the arrival, presence and departure of vehicles in each parking space. It benefits the management and control of PRM spaces by directing people with reduced mobility to free parking spaces close to their location, which avoids them driving around unnecessarily. Robust vehicle detection technology is highly reliable and provides real-time information to PRM card users.
In other words, Fastprk improves efficiency in car park services and reduces control costs by optimising the associated resources. These solutions also serve as a deterrent to unauthorised users, since the improved control prevents them from using others’ reserved parking spaces.
In short, it prevents them from breaching the rules and harming people with reduced mobility. At the same time, it serves as a deterrent to unauthorised users; feeling more controlled, they no longer take others’ parking spaces and cause serious harm to people with reduced mobility.
Persons with Reduced Mobility
The future of PRM parking space control
Throughout the article we have discussed what parking spaces for people with reduced mobility are, the PRM cards that allow their use and how to control them to prevent fraudulent use of spaces by unauthorised drivers. And we provide technological solutions that avoid these problems and allow better coexistence between vehicle users, respecting the rights of the most vulnerable groups.
Because at Urbiotica we not only develop technological innovations that facilitate mobility in cities; we also make them to promote coexistence and freedom of mobility for all people. Including respect for people with functional diversity or reduced mobility who, if they can drive, must do so with respect for other drivers and with the facilities appropriate to their needs.
Therefore, we believe in and defend the democratic use of technology at the service of society, leaving no one behind and promoting healthy coexistence. The future of mobility in cities and coexistence among all vehicle users in all their actions, including the use of public or private parking spaces, must be based on the combination of technology and individual responsibility on the part of drivers.
Our comprehensive and 360º solutions aimed at the management and control of parking spaces for people with reduced mobility are proof of our objective so that technology might allow a better use of all resources.
