Oct 1, 2009 6:05 am US/Eastern
Bloomberg Unveils 'Parking By Cell Phone' Plan
'Techno Mike' Hopes To End Frustrations Of NYC Driving By Having Drivers Use Phones To Find Spaces, Feed Meters
Text Messages Would Be Sent When Spaces Are Vacated
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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If Mayor Bloomberg has his way you will soon be using your phone to find available parking spaces in New York City. You'll also be able to feed the meter from afar.
AP
In the words of the mayor's own campaign ads, is it progress ... or politics?
The same man who once proposed charging drivers to come into Manhattan now has a plan to find them a place to put their cars.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's parking proposal uses new technology to do everything from pay the meter to find those valuable open spots -- from your cell phone.
New York City is filled with frustrated people and it's the toughest place – maybe anywhere – to find a parking spot.
"If we can point you, because of today's technology, in the right direction, it will reduce the chances of you driving around needlessly," Bloomberg said Wednesday.
The mayor is taking on one of the city's most annoying headaches, finding parking, with high-tech solutions.
It seems like "Candidate Mike" figured out that people with cars vote, and so, in addition to "Subway Mike," "Congestion Pricing Mike," and "Add More Bike Lanes Mike," we now have "Techno Mike."
He wants drivers to use their phones to view parking maps, see available parking spaces, get a text when the meter is going to expire and even feed the meter by phone.
"That's a good idea," said Sid Decker of the Upper East Side. "Mayor Bloomberg's got the right idea. He's always trying to do the right thing for the city."
"I think that it's great. You can get a parking space by phoning in. I think it's terrific," added Jim Fassler of the Upper East Side.
It seems like everyone is into it. But, in reality, it only seems that way.
"I think it's more the World Wide Web controlling our lives, frankly," said Seena Parker of the Upper West Side.
The mayor sees his plan as being "Realistic Mike."
"We have too many cars on the road. Mass transit really is the issue. But let's get serious people. They are going to drive and they have to park their cars and so if you can find ways where they don't waste the time and the pollution of going around and around, make their life easier, more efficient then there's no reason not to do it," Bloomberg said.
Among the other proposals, sensitivity training for parking agents to make your ticketing experience more … pleasant, and reducing alternate side of the street parking.
"But how are they going to clean the streets if they eliminate alternate side of the street parking?" Decker wondered.
The city would not eliminate it totally. It hopes to go from two days to one day.
"Well, that's a good idea," Decker said.
And there's good news for scofflaws who owe the city $700 million. The mayor is considering an amnesty. You pay just the ticket, not the fines and penalties.
Bill Thompson, the Democrat running against Bloomberg, dismissed the plan as a "stunt."
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