Not as cool as finding a street spot in a neighborhood but I recently visited family in Columbus, OH where they had a parking garage that helped you find a spot. This was a very popular shopping area when the weather is nice and can be a madhouse finding a parking spot.

Prior to entering the garage: XX spots available sign

Upon entering the garage: X spots level 1, Y spots level 2, Z spots level 3, etc

Upon picking the floor of your choice: Signs above each row with # of spots available.

So essentially I drove to a floor with a decent amount of spots available then was guided to a row with 3 spots left and parked easily and efficiently, no more mindlessly driving up and down lanes/floors adding to congestion. I tried to find the company in charge of the tech but the wife had more pressing matters to attend :)

I'm sure its been around a while or in other places, but this was the first I have seen and experienced it

That's a big improvement from what I usually see (just the X spots entering the garage and X spots per level). The per row information increases the usability a lot. I wonder if it would cost a lot to implement it from what most have right now.

This is standard on shopping malls in Brazil. Helps a ton. Another cool thing (and I don't know if this is standard) are these small red/green lights above each spot, allowing you to see from far away if that particular spot is taken or not.

The red green spot is really useful until a small car comes or the sensor is broken. But nonetheless it's really cool. I wonder what they use for the sensor. Light sensor? Magnetic?

I'm part of a open data group project over here in Europe, specifically Germany. We use open data (or scrape it and make it open this way) to offer open source apps including real time data and do machine learning for forecasting of public parking spaces: http://parkendd.de/en/

https://developer.android.com/images/brand/en_app_rgb_wo_60.... on your homepage is 404

Yeah, I also noted this when I visited the page after posting the comment ;) Interesting that Google didn't use a 301 redirection to the new button graphics...

Probably by design, in the usage terms it probably says (too lazy to look it up...) you shouldn't link directly to that but host a copy yourself :p

Actually, since you do have a right to park, but that information is terribly presented, what you get is people driving around and polluting more, trying to find one of the allowed streets.

This "idiot" is doing the government's work and indirectly reducing pollution.

My argument is that that idiot can further reduce pollution by using a bus. We're doing irreversible damage to the ecosystem. We complain about petrol companies and factories etc., but we should start from our own life.

And an "idiot" like you could use a bike instead of siting on your fat arse on a bus.

I see your point, but you are not presenting it well.

I'm presenting it as well as the OP's title does: "Where the f* can I park?".

I would use a bike, but in my city apart from some specific routes it's suicide, drivers like squeezing you in the traffic, and harassing otherwise. And also all the lanes are for cars.

I won't respond you for your use of "idiot" and "fat arse" towards me. I see your point there, but you are not presenting it well.

If riding a bike in your city is dangerous, the people should work towards making it better. Collect sings, go to the council, say we want bike lanes, etc.

Good job, I wonder what you'll copy-paste to this one: The bus network of a city is usually organised by a company or the council. But the hazards for the bikers are usually created by the drivers. Thus people's mindset is also involved in this problem, the council does not organise the harassment of bikers. So in this context, education of the drivers and empathy are better tools. Sure, council should be involved, but it's not the mere destination here. Go try your laconicism somewhere else, come back when you actually improve it.

And I'm saying your argument is arrogant, since you don't know the particulars of their situation, and it's more likely to alienate than to convince people - and I say this has someone who doesn't even own a car.

For example, do you know the bus network in Murcia? The centre is well served, but if you work a little further, you're out of luck.

Do you know if he uses the car to commute, or just occasionally? Like I said, I use public transportation pretty much exclusively. Yet I'm getting a driver's license, because when my 91-year-old grandmother needs to go somewhere, I'm certainly not taking her by bus.

Should we avoid using personal cars? Certainly. Does that make every car owner an idiot? No.

If the bus network in the suburbs of Murcia is bad, the people should work towards making it better. Collect sings, go to the council, say we want busses, trams, etc.

If you don't want to take your grandma by bus, take her by taxi.

> there isn't even right to possess cars

What?

If it's available for sale, and the ownership is not restricted by legislation, how do I not have a right to possess a car?

A right is actually the inverse of what you've proposed. It doesn't exist in the absence of legislation, it is defined by the legislation.

Even natural rights are enumerated in law.

If it's not in legislation it's just a privilege, not a right, and can be superceded without appeal by e.g. a court order.

I should've worded it like "there shouldn't even be a right to posses cars anymore". My bad, sorry. But this is my stance, given the frequency of traffic fatalities and the damage that cars give to the ecosystem, car ownership should leave its place to use if public transport and other eco friendly media.

Maybe Spain has become a communist paradise all of a sudden and nobody told us.

This is the only time in my entire life I've heard someone claim that global public transport is improving. It would be wonderful if it were so!

you really have to work on your communication skills. plus you are not correct on several points. karma proves that this isn't just my opinion (i didn't downvote you because i can't)

So I'm wrong because people disagree me?