Unlocking Solutions: A Deep Dive into Parking Issues and solutions in US Metropolitan Cities.
Introduction
We all have been there before. Your anxiety is rising while scanning the streets for an open parking spot, all while the car behind you is starting to hit their horn wondering what you are doing.
Finding parking in big cities can be an incredibly stressful experience. The high demand for limited parking spaces often leads to intense competition, circling blocks in search of an available spot, and the constant worry of exceeding parking time limits. The combination of congestion and limited options adds to the frustration, making the quest for parking a common source of stress for urban dwellers.
I have tasked myself to find out more about drivers and their pain points with public parking.
Date
Jan 2022 - Mar 2022
My Role
UX Researcher
The Problem
“U.S. drivers spend 17hrs per year searching for parking at a cost of $345 per driver in wasted time, fuel, and emissions.”
Parking is a never ending issue amongst drivers across the world. Studies have shown that 30% of urban congestion is caused by drivers looking for parking. This isn’t caused by a lack of parking, but rather a lack of parking information.
With several mobile apps offering “plan ahead” parking solutions, studies have shown that most drivers do not plan ahead of time.
Objective
The purpose of this research plan is to understand the root causes of parking-related challenges, assess their impact on traffic flow and safety, and propose user-centric solutions to alleviate the stress associated with finding parking in major US cities. from a combination of research methods, including but not limited to user surveys, and user interviews.
I handled all quantitative and qualitative user research, including the surveys and lead all interviews.
Methodology
1. Gather Preliminary Data
Conduct an extensive review of existing literature, traffic reports, and urban planning studies to gain insights into the historical context and the evolving nature of parking issues in metropolitan areas.
2. Data Collection
Utilize a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods:​
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Surveys: Distribute surveys to a diverse sample of drivers in major metropolitan cities, capturing their experiences, challenges, and stress levels related to parking.
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Interviews: Conduct in-depth interviews with urban planners, traffic management authorities, and parking facility operators to understand their perspectives on the current state of parking infrastructure.
3. User Experience Observations
Conduct on-site observations in popular city areas to witness firsthand the struggles drivers face in finding parking. Document behaviors, frustrations, and any safety concerns arising from parking-related stress.
Gathering Preliminary Data
As the first step of my research, I reviewed journals, articles and books to understand what studies have already been done. Not to my surprise, I came across data regarding the emotions drivers feel while searching for parking.
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1.3 million people become victims of some form of road accident each year
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61% of Americans reported they felt stressed trying to find a parking spot
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42% missed an appointment due to parking issues
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34% abandoned a trip due to a parking problem
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23% experienced road rage
Moreover, traffic congestions cost $115 billion+ each year to the U.S. alone.
A User Parking Journey
With the data above, I wanted to breakdown the journey that a typical driver experiences when driving to any location. It's a journey I have taken many times and it all begins when the driver decides they need to go somewhere.
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I identified two areas of the process that deserves further examination. First, When the user is determining their destination, there is plenty of time to consider a parking solution.
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Often times when looking for parking in a high traffic area, drivers can be caught in a cycle of searching for a parking spot. Emotionally, this is the most crucial time for a driver.
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Creating the User Survey
When it was time to develop a survey, I needed to come up with great questions that can provide insightful responses. Below are some of the questions that were then grouped and sorted based on similarity.
Utilizing Typeform, I shared my survey out to several different drivers that reside in different areas of living, such as the suburbs and urban cities.
Survey Results
The survey was left open for one week with some solid results.
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41 views
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24 users started the survey
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18 users completed the survey
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75% completion rate
Upon reviewing the results, I identified key pain points for the drivers.
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13/18 drivers rarely or never plan for parking before heading to their destination
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Locating a spot is difficult and tiresome. 12/18 drivers expressed finding a parking spot on average takes 5+ minutes.
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Not knowing the parking rules and regulations is common. In cities and suburbs, 4 drivers expressed they are unsure if their parking spot is reliable.
Other interesting insights:
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Most parking issues/concerns take place in cities and suburbs.
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Google maps is the primary application used for directions.
User Interviews
Following the survey, I needed to get in front of drivers and talk to them personally. A survey can help generate quick insights, but having an actual discussion can lead to more thought provoking and genuine responses.
I conducted 6 interviews with drivers from Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, and Washington D.C.
Remi Lee
24 years old
Hostess/Bartender
Washington D.C.
1. What is the more deciding factor when it comes to parking; price or convenience?
"Price and convenience come into play. Id rather walk than pay a more expensive spot. In my opinion $2-$5 but depends on how long of a walk."
2. How often do you utilize public parking?
"5 days a week. I work in D.C. and park in high traffic garages. I am constantly looking for parking since I cannot afford a monthly parking rate."
3. How would you rate the parking solutions in your area?
"D.C. is a 4/10. I am limited to garages so it's quite difficult."
4. How comfortable are you with street parking?
"1/5. I don't like street parking and avoid it as much as possible. I get frustrated and anxious with people waiting for me parallel park."
5. How do you remember where you park?
"I use my phone by pinging my location on google maps. Sometimes I take a picture of my surroundings, such as street signs and landmarks to remember."
6. How do you feel when searching for parking?
"Irritation that can sometimes grow into road rage. I am not great at parallel parking so I tend to use valets or lots, but its much more expensive and can weigh on me with how much I spend on it."
Summary of interviews
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4/6 view that Convenience is more important than price. This means that more people would seem to pay more for a better parking spot or closer to their destination or safety, vs. parking further away for less money.
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50% of interviewers say that they usually remember where the park from memory. However, 5/6 do say they will take a picture if they feel they might forget.
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5/6 say they do not use parking apps, unless absolutely necessary. This is very interesting as maybe the need for a parking app isnt absolutely necessary?
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Anxiety & Frustration seem to be the dominant emotions when searching for parking. This means that parking in general is an unpleasant experience.
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When finding a parking spot, a sense of relief and celebration immediately come to mind.
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Drivers are either extremely confident in street parking, or absolutely avoids it until necessary.
The User Story
I created a storyboard that represents a common scenario for drivers to better illustrate potential results of parking issues.
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Unfortunately, situations like the one above happens far too often for drivers. Drivers are not considering where they will park until they get to the destination, which if it does not go well, then it causes anxiety and is a waste of time and money.
Reflection and Next Steps
Through research, surveys, and interviews, I was able to identify multiple pain points that drivers are dealing with on a daily basis.
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Drivers experience anxiety and other extreme emotions when dealing with parking, specifically in high traffic cities.
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Most drivers do not utilize parking apps unless it's necessary. This is key as it shows that parking apps is not the ideal solution.
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Most traffic congestion in cities is due to drivers looking for parking.
Providing pre-planned parking solutions is great, but most drivers do not utilize it.
As someone who lives in Boston, MA, this research has become quite important to me. I found myself diving deeper and deeper into the research. With the creativity of solutions such as Uber, Lyft, and rentable scooters, progress is being made, but maybe not the solution that is needed.
My goal is to take this research and begin coming up with my own solution. Please check back for more progress!