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time's up for cashless car parking hailed as 'the future' ; LOW-TECH Innovative way of paying for parking has been overtaken by technology and is... [Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland)](Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) time's up for cashless car parking hailed as 'the future' ; LOW-TECH Innovative way of paying for parking has been overtaken by technology and is being scrapped A CASHLESS parking scheme which was hailed as "the future" for Glasgow motorists is being scrapped. From the end of the month drivers will no longer be able to pay for parking by mobile phone. Dublin-based Payzone ran the mPARK payment system, which had about 5000 users. for Glasgow City Council. However, it is now coming to an end because BT is scrapping the out-of-date-system. Four years ago, all the city centre's parking metres were hooked up to the scheme, for which motorists registered online or over the phone, with the cost of the parking - as well as an extra 30p for use of the service - going on to their credit card. The system worked through a technology known as Mobitex, which is owned by BT in the UK. But the telecommunications firm says the system has now been overtaken by technology, and is running a loss, and has told customers they are scrapping it later this year. Gavin Doyle, product manager for Payzone, which handles electronic payments, said: "The connection from our service to the meters is being discontinued by BT. There's really no alternative. We have an alternative service running in Dublin and would be keen to work with Glasgow City Council to put that in place here." Registered customers have been sent a text message telling them the service is ending. However, the council says it is keen to install a better scheme with another company so that drivers don't have to visit the ticket machine at all. But so far nothing has been put in place. A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "Cashless parking is currently only available at 325 ticket machines in the city centre, and the mobile network that supports the system is now being withdrawn by the provider. "As a result, we will stop offering this payment method at the end of this month. All existing customers have been notified. "Rather than invest in the introduction of an alternative network that would not support the services we want to offer our customers, we are now concentrating on a citywide, fully virtual system." Glasgow followed Edinburgh, Sydney and Dublin by introducing the cashless scheme in summer 2007. At the time Glasgow City Council roads boss Robert Booth said: "It is the future: an effortless, efficient and safe way to pay for parking." After completing registration by phone or internet, the whole transaction took less than a minute to complete. To use the service, motorists called a local number and were asked to enter their mobile phone number, parking meter number, bay number and other relevant information. Drivers then heard a 'transaction successful' message. The parking meter screen also displayed a message confirming the transaction. A ticket was then printed from the pay-and-display parking meter to put on the car windscreen. The system was praised by drivers who said it stopped people from having to rush to shops for change and risk getting a parking ticket. They also said it meant they didn't have to get purses or wallets out, especially at night. PR consultant Peter Samson, who works from home in the West End, parks in the city centre twice a week and has used the service since its launch. He said: "I was hacked off when I got a text telling me it would be discontinued. "It's so simple being able to pay for the parking via my mobile phone, and the worry of wondering if I've got change in my pocket is removed. "Let's hope that when the council looks at introducing a new system, it takes the service to the next level - as in Edinburgh - so that not only do you use your mobile to pay for parking, you can also top up and pay for extra time remotely" Payzone also ran Edinburgh's cashless payment service, which began in 2003, but Edinburgh City Council switched to another company in August because of BT's announcement. A spokesman for BT said: "Mobitex is a data-only mobile network which was bought by BT more than 10 years ago. "Over the years, it has been overtaken by better and cheaper technologies, and we told the last few remaining customers over a year ago that this loss-making service would be withdrawn, with a closure date of September 30 this year." Motoring expert Neil Greig, Scottish policy adviser for the Institute of Advanced Motoring Trust, said it is a "backwards step" for Glasgow and urged the city council to find a new provider for a similar service. He said: "This kind of thing is the future. In this day and age, everything is about internet shopping, and using your phone to pay for things. It's something a city the size of Glasgow should have." A similar scheme is used in London, and another is planned for Manchester. sarah.swain@ eveningtimes.co.uk (c) 2011 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |