The traffic generated by drivers searching a parking slot is not negligible. In addition to that, the equilibrium between the different car parks in a same town is a frequent objective for local authorities. However, the situation in France and in Europe is not very clear, insofar as a lot of different systems already exist, and that national regulations are seldom. It is the reason why the CERTU (as a part of the French Ministry of Transport) has launched a study on this subject, in order to have a better view of the existing systems throughout Europe, and also to produce recommendations for future systems to be installed in French cities. The paper is divided into four parts: (1) the general context; (2) the results of the aforementioned study regarding the current situation in France; (3) a general view of the situation in several European cities; and (4) an outline of the recommendations which will be produced by the CERTU during the year 2001. These recommendations will tackle the following subjects: how to count the cars, how to conceive the dynamic signing, recommendations concerning the control centre and the transmission means.
Abstract