Todd passes on this info from Springwise.
SpotScout claims to be the world’s first mobile exchange marketplace for parking spots, connecting parking spaces with drivers that are desperately seeking them.
Urban planners estimate that as much as 80 percent of traffic on some city streets comes from motorists aimlessly circling blocks in search of a place to park. Which is why a number of cities have launched online parking reservation services in recent years, making information available about available spots in parking lots and public garages.
SpotScout takes it one step further, by not only offering real-time availability information to spot-seekers, but also allowing private, home parking space owners to make their spot available to other motorists. These ‘SpotCasters’ set their asking price and the time they wish to make their space(s) available, and can instantly place the information on SpotScout’s network for others to see. Both reservations and payment take place online or via web-enabled mobile phones.
Those of you who have read trendwatching.com’s latest trend briefing will immediately recognize that SpotScout cleverly caters to infolust – consumers’ insatiable desire for relevant information, wherever and whenever. SpotCasting could also be a nice side-business for minipreneurs, who can monetize sleeping assets by not only offering their own space, but coordinating availability of other private parking spaces on their block. With the owners’ permission, of course.
SpotScout will launch in Boston and New York any day now. So if you’d like to jump in this space on a larger scale, send a message to bizdev@SpotScout.com and start up a partnership in a parking-starved city near you.
4 responses to “Electronic Parking Markets”
Awesome. Just what we need – an electronic, online system for finding out when people won’t be home; and exactly how long they’ll be gone for.
Mmmmmm…. I could use a new flatscreen TV.
I’ve heard about this, and I’d be very surprised if it works. Often, peoples’ biggest argument in favor of car use is its “flexibility” in conforming to one’s personal schedule. Now you have to wait around to guard your parking space until the person to whom you sold it arrives (or to let the buyer into your garage)? Not sure how logistically that could work too well. I understand that this is intended for those with private parking, but that’s not exactly ubiquitous in New York.
Note the disclaimers in that sentence:
80% of urban planners (which ones?) estimate that AS MUCH AS (how much?) 80% of traffic on SOME (how many?) city streets…
Come on…
I also heard that as many as 68.3% of rodeo clowns estimate that possibly 89.2% of people enjoy a nice enema after they’ve successfully gotten a parking spot in downtown. But there’s only a 10% chance on alternate Fridays after a solar eclipse.
This could only work in a market where there is a parking “problem.” Portland has no such problem, even in NW. That said, it would be a plus to get something productive going on all those parking lots in the West End as well as on all that valuable industrial land which is said to be in short supply up which autos are “stored.”