Shop & Go attracts 1,1 million parking motorists

The 232 Shop & Go parking spaces in Kortrijk’s city center are a success. In one year, 1.1432 million motorists chose a Shop & Go space that allows motorists to park up to 30 minutes free of charge. The number of fines, to date accounting for € 468.000,-, are expected to fall vastly.

At Shop & Go zones, parking is allowed for a maximum of 30 minutes. Nedap’s SENSIT on-street parking sensors monitor the parking duration. Violating motorists receive a fine of €25,- from parkeerbedrijf Kortrijk (Parko), the city’s parking enforcement company. Since July last year, an amount of €468.000,- worth of fines has been written. Violators are usually not ill-willed, but do not understand the system. Therefore, all Shop & Go zones will receive a green color in autumn this year to eliminate misunderstandings. Work in progress. "Anyone who still misuses the parking spaces by then should buy a pair of glasses," says councilor Mobility Axel Weydts (sp.a), who is also chairman of Parko. Currently almost nine out of ten drivers use the Shop & Go zones correctly.

The 232 parking spaces have attracted 1.1432 million parkers since July 2014.

"If you assume that each motorist spends at least €5,- on small groceries, you can speak of a major economic benefit for the city," says councilor for Economy Rudolf Scherpereel (N -VA).

"Nevertheless, on average 55%of the parking spaces remain available." Weydts adds. "There are hardly any differences between winter and summer. Therefore, anyone looking for a parking space can always make use of the available Shop & Go spaces without having to look for other parking options."

Reorganizing parking facilities

Parko is planning to reorganize the Park & Go offer. Because of underutilization, a total of seven spaces will disappear from i.a. the city’s train station area. However, as a result of great utilization in the other neighborhoods, additional Park & Go parking spaces will be added to the city.

After the reconstruction of the Houtmarkt, five Shop & Go zones will be added for anyone who, for example, wants to drop off their children at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Furthermore, several other Shop & Go zones will be re-located to areas with a higher density of retailers.

A total of 442 parking spaces have been transformed to Shop & Go zones, including the ones at areas outside the R36 and parishes. The only areas lacking Shop & Go are Aalbeke, Rollegem and Kooigem. "An extension can be made if there is an increased demand from retailers," says Weydts.

The construction of one Shop & Go parking space costs €589. Personnel costs for parking enforcement of the 30 minute maximum now amounts to over € 100,000 per year.

Source: Leiestreek Regio / Peter Lanssens

About Nedap Identification Systems

Nedap is a manufacturer of intelligent technological solutions for relevant themes. Sufficient food for a growing population, clean drinking water throughout the world and smart networks for sustainable energy are just a couple of examples of themes Nedap is working on. It has a continual focus on technology that matters. Nedap was established in 1929, has been listed on the stock exchange since 1947 and, with more than 720 employees, Nedap is active around the world.

Nedap Identification Systems is the leading specialist in systems for long-range identification, wireless vehicle detection and city access control. Readers, sensors and controllers optimize, monitor and control the movement of vehicles and people. Safe, secure and efficient.