Tech To Rescue Of Parking Spot Seekers

Reservation Web Sites, Mobile Systems Aiding Urban Motorists

(CBS)  There isn't much that's more aggravating for urban drivers than circling around, looking for a parking space.

CBS News correspondent Susan McGinnis cites herself as a prime example: It took her a full half-hour recently to find a spot in New York City.

But McGinnis reports that several high-tech services have popped up to help motorists find parking.

And doing that, she says, could not only cut frustration levels and save time, it could help reduce another driving hassle: traffic. An estimated one-third of traffic congestion in downtown areas comes from drivers searching for spots. Curbing the problem could also reduce emissions and consumption of gasoline.

For an extra $1.75, one company, Mobile Parking, offers prime, reserve spaces in hundreds of parking facilities in several major cities.

SpotScout is starting a service that enables you to log on to its Web site from your cell phone, then search for and reserve parking spots. They can be in parking garages or from individuals who happen to have a spot to spare.

But, says McGinnis, the parking industry is most excited about wireless networks being built in some areas, even entire cities, such as Anaheim, Calif., where EarthLink is installing equipment right now.

When entire cities go wireless, McGinnis points out, parking meters could be equipped with sensors that tell motorists via their cell phones or GPS systems where the empty spaces are.

Reservations and payments could be made before drivers even arrive.

One potential rub to all this, though: Experts say high-tech parking methods will wind up making parking even pricier.