HOSPITAL PARKING
scheme needs some form of criteria management. A well-designed permit scheme is likely to have qualifying criteria that include some or all of: n Eligibility – current employment status. n Working hours/pattern. n Distance from site. n Access to alternative means of transport.
n Professional need for a vehicle on site. n Vehicle details, and especially vehicle registration number. n Site contact details.
Other useful options might include car sharing, multiple vehicles, and vehicle type (EV for example). Depending on whether permits are chargeable and the basis of the cost, there would generally be a need to reference payroll or HR information, whether as an input by the applicant, or an automated validation during the application process. Other parking demand will be driven mostly by visitors and day patients. Their needs will be the result of appointment or visiting times. Even if there are alternative public transport means, there will be, for the foreseeable future, a demand for parking for private vehicles. Some of this demand will be out of necessity (e.g. accessibility needs), and some will be for convenience.
Pre-booking option
There is a strong case for some form of pre-booking of parking for those choosing to use their own cars. While such a scheme can potentially be contentious, it should be compared with the hidden frustrations and knock-on costs of users that try to park but can’t, or not without a lengthy wait. A parking booking system potentially fits well with provision of free or concessionary parking for some users. It can help to ensure that vulnerable users are prioritised, both in terms of both allocation and a location specific to their needs. Booking for some users doesn’t preclude a ‘first come, first served’ for others.
Providing all users with car park occupancy information is a key factor in them making informed choices. Variable message signs on site can display real- time occupancy. When matched with effective software tools, signs can encourage users towards alternative car parks in instances where there are ‘pinch points’.
A variety of technologies Various options exist for real-time occupancy counting, and the most widely adopted is a system of inductive loops in the roadway. These are often associated with barrier or access control solutions, and allow some control over the management information being collected. The latest ‘counting’ technologies include cameras, individual space sensors,
58 Health Estate Journal July 2021
Clear and simple directional signing guides car park users and aids decision-making.
and parking guidance solutions for multi- storey car parks. When the camera-based solutions include licence plate recognition functionality, then we start to see the ability for greater control over specific users or groups of users.
Parking guidance and occupancy counting will sit on a software solution that allows car parks to be mapped based on numbers of spaces, specific groups of users, and criteria around operating hours and charging. If the software is truly web-based, it will allow integration with other software solutions, that can include reservations, enforcement, permit management, access control, CCTV, and lighting. Importantly, a web-based occupancy solution allows data to be presented to users in ways that help them make informed choices. Web pages, apps, and alerts, are all easily deployed options to provide users with real-time information and positively influence
demand towards car park alternatives when demand is high.
Historical data
Historical data allows modelling and advance warning of potential issues. It also provides the ability to make informed management choices about future requirements. There are tangible benefits to modelling car park demand that will show themselves in reductions in capacity requirements, fewer missed appointments, greater ease of use, less stress, better parking organisation, and reduced environmental impact.
Use and abuse of parking needs both management and enforcement. Enforcement can be enacted using patrols or ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), or a combination of the two. ANPR has something of a stigma for enforcement, and it is often implemented in isolation for that purpose, leading to the perception that ANPR = enforcement. As with patrol-based enforcement however, it’s often not the technology that is the issue, but rather the processes that surround ticket management. Ultimately, enforcement is a failure of process, albeit there will always be users that choose to flout the rules. Properly deployed ANPR technology supports payments, demand management, and enforcement.
Parking management and enforcement is underpinned by clear signing.
Enforcement on private land The British Parking Association (BPA) and International Parking Community (IPC) both have strong codes of practice for enforcement on private land. The codes set out processes and timescales so that anyone receiving a ticket should be dealt with professionally and made aware of the options open to them. ANPR is a valuable and cost-effective tool where the data being referenced is accurate, and where parking areas are accurately defined. While it’s perfectly possible to identify permit holders using ANPR at site entrances and exits, it will add much greater value where parking areas are
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