Paphos signs contact for "smart" parking system

[Paphos Life]

Paphos Municipality on Thursday signed a €916,3000 contract for a "smart" system to manage parking areas in what mayor Phedon Phedonos hailed as another substantial step in the town's transition to becoming a "Smart City?". Paphos is the first local authority in Cyprus to adopt a comprehensive application to manage parking areas and spaces, he said....

Read the article and chat about it below...

[Dominic]

I am not sure whether they added a zero to the figure or put a comma in the wrong place.

[trevnhil]

Perhaps someone can enlighten me.. At the moment if I go to a car park I put a coin in a meter.
How will I pay at a 'Smart' car park ??

[bromerzz]

Locally down the east of the island, you text the number on the pay and display boards with your car reg.

[Paphos Pete]

Probably the same way these smart carparks work in the UK.

As you drive into the carpark, ANPR cameras at the entrance detect your entry and log your vehicle details and the time of entry.
You park up, get your phone out, open the specific car park app for that particular 'brand' of car park (there are a few different ones in the UK, NCP / Council etc).
You enter the numerical code diplayed on large signs around the carpark which identifies which car park you're in to the system.
This ties your car to the location and time of entry (you already entered your car reg details into the app when you first downloaded it and set it up with vehicle reg / payment details), and authorises payment for your stay.
When you leave, the ANPR cameras detect your car leaving and trigger the end of your stay to the system, and payment is made.

A little daunting at first, but they save a lot of hassle, such as having to remember to carry change for the car park, and memorising when you arrived so that you don't run out of time, or remembering to run back to add more if you've spent more time than you intended. You just pay for the time you've used.

[Dominic]

Locally down the east of the island, you text the number on the pay and display boards with your car reg.

In Old Town they have recently put in several new, traditional pay and display points. It would seem bizarre to immediately replace them. In the East, is there still the option to just buy a ticket?

Currently, 1 euro for 1, 2 or 4 hours seems to be the norm, depending on the location.

[bromerzz]

Yes you can still pay with cash, and even bank cards if I remember correctly.

[trevnhil]

Paphos Pete.. Re " When you leave, the ANPR cameras detect your car leaving and trigger the end of your stay to the system, and payment is made. "
Payment is made from Where ???
If you are going to say my phone, I just have one that I put a 10 euros top up on from time to time

[alewfin1]

As it's too onerous for many to pay €1 at a machine who then park on the street (often on double yellow lines) or on the pavement I cannot see them embracing the palaver as described by Paphos Pete.

The most cost effective parking is the common practice of passing the paid ticket to a motorist entering the car park as you leave it.

[Kili01]

bromerzz, paying cash sounds the easier than dare I say it the more technical one! I usually have a one euro coin.... The price for the new smart technology looks eye watering!

[Paphos Pete]

Paphos Pete.. Re " When you leave, the ANPR cameras detect your car leaving and trigger the end of your stay to the system, and payment is made. "
Payment is made from Where ???
If you are going to say my phone, I just have one that I put a 10 euros top up on from time to time

Trev: the answer is in my original mail above the line you quoted.

When you download the relevant app for the particular flavour of car park you wish to use, as part of configuring the app the first time you use it, you enter your vehicle registration details, and a valid method of payment such as PayPal / credit card / debit card etc.
Then whenever you exit the car park after your stay, this is the payment method used to pay for your visit.

Nice and simple.

[trevnhil]

Thanks Pete. Paying with a coin is simple as well

[jagwheels]

Well said Trev. Visitors are going to love this. I assume it leads to less people needed to empty the meters

[The Aquila]

Thanks Pete. Paying with a coin is simple as well

It wasn’t for me Trev!

I wanted to park up at the top of the old town in one of the new car parks there. It was 60c for an hour or €1.20 for two, I only had €1 coins and I wasn’t bothered about the 40c but the machine refused to take the money and flashed up correct money only!

Smart parking will be welcomed by more people than will complain about it.

[Lofos-Jan]

I have been informed that this system is the highest in tech. Every single parking space will be identified by individual sensors.

Jeanne

[trevnhil]

Will this 'smart' payment system work if the phone is not connected to the internet ..

[trevnhil]

In recent weeks I have used two restaurants / food outlets that do not accept cards..
And I even posted in the last week or two about a Pharmacy that will not accept a debit card for Gesy subscriptions.
So it seems a number of businesses are going to have to update a little as well

[jeba]

When you download the relevant app for the particular flavour of car park you wish to use, as part of configuring the app the first time you use it, you enter your vehicle registration details, and a valid method of payment such as PayPal / credit card / debit card etc.
Then whenever you exit the car park after your stay, this is the payment method used to pay for your visit.

Nice and simple.

Unless you have no data/ no connection to download the app.

[trevnhil]

I have no data when I am out. I an on a Cyta Pay as You Go card

[Kili01]

I have an old Nokia phone which I use locally. The coin in the slot is my preferred option,..
The EU is obviously providing enough cash for those in command in Paphos, to indulge in these very expensive new technologies..
I would prefer them to spend some money on maintaining past projects, such as the wooden seats and structures which were erected by the previous mayor. I am referring to the only seats on the popular coastal walk from the harbour to Lighthouse Beach. Some of these need repairs. to make them safe, and the metal parts are rusting and also need treatment and both need painting with a preservative.
Dee.