a study released in June by Transportation Alternatives, a public transit advocacy group, reported that 28 percent to 45 percent of traffic on some streets in New York City is generated by people circling the blocks.

One of the main problems for any driver in a big city is parking. Finding a parking place is always a big deterrent to take the car. In San Francisco, they are installing a new system that will inform via web of the free parking places (NYT article here). This information could be consulted with smartphones or on public screens. This would indeed be a great improvement, and a great time saver. Yet, I am not sure about the article’s (or perhaps the San Francisco’s city authorities’) claim of being this an alternative to city congestion charges to reduce downtown traffic; if one can find easier a spot to park and closer to the destination, one will be less deter to take the car. I would see these measures as complementary to improve the conditions of the driver, the pedestrian and the citizen.

There is also something that I don’t fully understand regarding the wireless system they are using to gather the information about parking space use. They are using sensor devices attached to the ground

The device, called a “bump,” is battery operated and intended to last for five and 10 years without service.

Why aren’t they using solar cells to power these “bumps”? Yes, it will take 5-10 years, but it is a hell of “bumps” to replace every that period! I wonder if they have given a thought about the use of solar energy.