SMART parking meters could soon be introduced to allow people to cut out the worry of not having enough coins in their pockets for the machines or facing fines for overstaying their welcome.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Bader Al Tamimi is proposing that a mobile app be made available for motorists that would allow them to pay digitally through their smart phones for as much time as they needed to complete government service transactions or shopping trips.
He believes too many people are being penalised by traffic policemen for failing to pay and display when technology could resolve many of the issues.
Motorists face a BD50 fine for improper parking or pay and display indiscretions which is halved should a settlement be made within seven days. Parking meters are in place in Manama, Gudaibiya, Hoora, Muharraq, Isa Town and Riffa among other areas.
On-street parking is charged at 100fils per 30 minutes, from 7am until 7pm. There is a maximum two-hour stay allowed.
“People want to complete government services, shopping and other needs without thinking about whether their parking time has expired and a traffic policeman has slapped their vehicle with a ticket,” Mr Al Tamimi told the GDN.
“It’s hard to gauge how much time is needed and it is tiresome to run from one end of the Manama Suq to another just to check on a ticket’s validity,” he added.
“Parking meters are good as they teach people parking discipline, but the current system is not flexible enough. It’s about time a mobile app was introduced as a cashless payment option.
“People can pay digitally, register the vehicle number and the time needed, with it reflected on the iPad of the traffic police checking on parked cars ... and without a piece of paper having to be exhibited on the windshield.”
Northern Municipal Council chairman Ahmed Al Kooheji backed the proposal, saying it was also solve the problem of searching for coins, especially for people who haven’t carried enough in the pockets, purses or wallets.
“The current meters should also accept banknotes as well as coins and return the difference as in European countries,” he suggested.
“The world is turning ‘cashless’ and most things are shifting online due to Covid-19, so an app would be a positive step forward,” he said.
“I love the idea but it would need to be tested first.” Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah believes the concept is long overdue but voiced concerns that shop workers and company employees might take an unfair advantage by filling up parking spaces long-term and preventing others from using them.
“The two-hour limit is there to ensure everyone benefits from parking spaces. Should they become open-ended, by using a mobile-app to top up the time, workers and employees in nearby facilities would turn the spaces into their own property,” he warned.
“That aside work on the app proposal should begin shortly so that one could be introduced and made available by early next year.”
The Pay and Display meters cover 2,400 car parking areas located on nine trade roads across the country. Each solar-powered meter device covers 15 car parking spaces at a time. The hi-tech machines, which are computer-programmable, have been designed for payment by coins.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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