TECHNOLOGY REVIEW: PAYMENT SYSTEMS

Free parking off-street is disappearing rapidly in the UK, so that there is increasing demand for payment technology. The main article in this feature shows how off-street payment systems are becoming ever more sophisticated, and their market is becoming more competitive. Pay-and-display systems are still dominant, but pay-on-foot systems may become dominant in the future; the pay-on-foot market is changing rather than just growing. Automated pay-on-foot systems use barriers to control access and exit; payment is made at automated pay stations, although there may be a cashier payment facility. Whatever technology is used, parking managers are increasingly keen on systems with: (1) Windows-based operating platforms, which enable parking payment to be integrated with in-house accounting; (2) validation systems which distinguish between different user groups; (3) cashless transactions; (4) automatic vehicle recognition; and (5) a rapid response to service call-outs. The other articles describe some special facilities. The 'credit card in-credit card out' system is a cashless payment system based on credit cards, which can be used to reduce the use of paper tickets in barrier-controlled car parks. Other systems include Visa Cash, payment by remote control, and some new pay-on-foot systems for the UK.