Menu
04/02/2020
'Smart' Loading Zones Prove Popular Across Belfast
A 'Smart Belfast' pilot project at two of the city's busiest hospitals is proving popular with drivers.
Belfast City Council introduced the smart loading zone scheme in a bid to tackle urban transport delivery and parking challenges through the use of the PARKUNLOAD app.
The parking button enables drivers to easily 'check in' to smart loading zones and electric vehicle (EV) charge points.
This helps manage the zones and other restricted parking spaces, using IoT (Internet of Things) devices and mobile applications.
Currently piloted at the Musgrave Park and City Hospital sites, the scheme has been welcomed by estate management, car park users and delivery drivers.
Using the app to identify parking slots and pre book space is improving how available parking spaces are used, making deliveries more efficient and helping to prevent congestion. The average parking time at the EV spaces has been significantly reduced to just two hours, making it more freely available to other EV drivers.
Alderman Brian Kingston, Chair of the council's Strategic and Policy Resources Committee paid a visit to the trial site at Musgrave Park Hospital.
He said: "Like cities across the globe, Belfast is beginning to experience an increase in traffic and congestion as online shopping becomes more popular. We need to balance the needs of businesses and our residents while, at the same time, look after our environment.
"The wealth of innovation and lessons gained from this pilot present real opportunities to reduce congestion, improve air quality and make city centre deliveries safer. We're delighted the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is working with us on this pilot and it's great that users of EV spaces and loading bays are taking part in the trial to create innovative solutions that can improve city life."
PARKUNLOAD's CEO Carles Sentís added: "We're delighted to be taking forward this co-innovation with Belfast City Council and in collaboration with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. This project has been great as it has helped us develop and showcase a smart parking button interface to make parking easier for drivers. The drivers of the Trust's goods vehicle fleet are among the first in the world to trial this feature."
Belfast City Council introduced the smart loading zone scheme in a bid to tackle urban transport delivery and parking challenges through the use of the PARKUNLOAD app.
The parking button enables drivers to easily 'check in' to smart loading zones and electric vehicle (EV) charge points.
This helps manage the zones and other restricted parking spaces, using IoT (Internet of Things) devices and mobile applications.
Currently piloted at the Musgrave Park and City Hospital sites, the scheme has been welcomed by estate management, car park users and delivery drivers.
Using the app to identify parking slots and pre book space is improving how available parking spaces are used, making deliveries more efficient and helping to prevent congestion. The average parking time at the EV spaces has been significantly reduced to just two hours, making it more freely available to other EV drivers.
Alderman Brian Kingston, Chair of the council's Strategic and Policy Resources Committee paid a visit to the trial site at Musgrave Park Hospital.
He said: "Like cities across the globe, Belfast is beginning to experience an increase in traffic and congestion as online shopping becomes more popular. We need to balance the needs of businesses and our residents while, at the same time, look after our environment.
"The wealth of innovation and lessons gained from this pilot present real opportunities to reduce congestion, improve air quality and make city centre deliveries safer. We're delighted the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is working with us on this pilot and it's great that users of EV spaces and loading bays are taking part in the trial to create innovative solutions that can improve city life."
PARKUNLOAD's CEO Carles Sentís added: "We're delighted to be taking forward this co-innovation with Belfast City Council and in collaboration with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. This project has been great as it has helped us develop and showcase a smart parking button interface to make parking easier for drivers. The drivers of the Trust's goods vehicle fleet are among the first in the world to trial this feature."
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 October 2007
Tickets Bonanza On Parking
A year after responsibility for parking fines moved from the police to the Department for Regional Development (DRD), more than 140,000 tickets for illegal parking have been issued. New statistics show that since parking enforcement moved from the PSNI last October, 143,564 parking tickets were issued by DRD-contracted National Car Parks wardens.
Tickets Bonanza On Parking
A year after responsibility for parking fines moved from the police to the Department for Regional Development (DRD), more than 140,000 tickets for illegal parking have been issued. New statistics show that since parking enforcement moved from the PSNI last October, 143,564 parking tickets were issued by DRD-contracted National Car Parks wardens.
12 October 2006
City Hall to become a ‘no parking zone’
Parking restrictions on the cobbled area directly in front of Belfast City Hall are being strictly enforced from next week. On Monday (October 16), work begins to install bollards, to prevent vehicles parking on the cobbles.
City Hall to become a ‘no parking zone’
Parking restrictions on the cobbled area directly in front of Belfast City Hall are being strictly enforced from next week. On Monday (October 16), work begins to install bollards, to prevent vehicles parking on the cobbles.
04 May 2023
Funds Secured For City Centre 'Bolder Vision' Initiatives
Funding has been secured for two initiatives to make Belfast city centre 'safer, greener and more accessible'. The Department of Infrastructure has awarded Blue Green Infrastructure funding to two 'Bolder Vision' initiatives, proposed by Belfast City Council.
Funds Secured For City Centre 'Bolder Vision' Initiatives
Funding has been secured for two initiatives to make Belfast city centre 'safer, greener and more accessible'. The Department of Infrastructure has awarded Blue Green Infrastructure funding to two 'Bolder Vision' initiatives, proposed by Belfast City Council.
23 February 2023
Dept For Infrastructure Increases On-Street Parking Charges
The Department for Infrastructure has announced that on-street parking tariffs are to increase in Belfast, Newry and Lisburn from 01 April, 2023. The on-street parking tariffs in the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) in Belfast, Lisburn and Newry were last increased in February 2017.
Dept For Infrastructure Increases On-Street Parking Charges
The Department for Infrastructure has announced that on-street parking tariffs are to increase in Belfast, Newry and Lisburn from 01 April, 2023. The on-street parking tariffs in the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) in Belfast, Lisburn and Newry were last increased in February 2017.
21 October 2008
City Centre Residents Win Free Parking Scheme
Just months after holding informal consultations with people living in parts of inner city areas of Belfast who are plagued by parking problems caused by non-residents using their streets for free all-day parking, a parking-for-residents plan has been mooted.
City Centre Residents Win Free Parking Scheme
Just months after holding informal consultations with people living in parts of inner city areas of Belfast who are plagued by parking problems caused by non-residents using their streets for free all-day parking, a parking-for-residents plan has been mooted.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
