At this point, we are all familiar with the sharing economy. Big names like Uber, Lyft, WeWork, Industrious, Airbnb, Vrbo, and ParqEx are just a few companies that have made their mark in this industry. But let’s not forget about Zipcar.

Zipcar is a car-sharing service that is an alternative option to owning a vehicle or going through old-school car rental companies. For residential property owners and managers seeking ways to add different amenities to their property, Zipcar pops up on their list. Property owners & managers, do you have Zipcars on-site? Learn how to simplify Zipcar access to your private parking!

About Zipcar

All companies in the sharing economy strive to simplify their user experience. With that in mind, Zipcar allows users to get started quickly by selecting a membership type that fits their needs and booking a trip via their app (after credentials are swiftly verified) with a company-owned Zipcar by the hour or day. As Zipcar is nationwide, users can easily book rides with Zipcar no matter where they are, 24/7. With very few rules, like making sure the vehicle is clean, filled with gas, and returned on time, Zipcar is a fan favorite.

Zipcar & Residential Buildings

A key focus in residential real estate is always amenities. And amenities keep evolving! So, property owners and managers must stay on top of the amenity game if they want to continue drawing in the ideal tenants and residents. These days, it’s not sufficient to solely offer in-unit washers and dryers with front desk staff. Now, amenities that keep buildings trendy and relevant are dog-washing areas, license plate recognition cameras for parking facilities, car-washing services in parking garages, and car-sharing options like Zipcar.

Zipcar at Private Parking

Zipcar is a seamless experience for any Zipcar in an open surface parking lot or street parking. However, a slight hiccup and inconvenience property owners and management experience with the Zipcars they have on their property is regarding access to their private parking spaces. The current solution and workaround for Zipcars sitting behind gates or garage doors are parking passes or gate codes. Depending on the property, some Zipcars may have their parking pass behind the visor on the driver’s side or the gate code is listed under the Zipcar reservation in the app.

Property management: We know you know the security threat of losing parking passes floating around or gate codes shared with unauthorized users. Yes, Zipcar has a workaround for their users if they lose the parking pass or can’t find the gate codes, but your property has to deal with the aftermath. 

Not with ParqEx’s parking solutions working in tandem with Zipcar at your property! Keep reading to discover how to simplify Zipcar access to your private parking.

ParqEx’s Solution for Zipcar Access to Private Parking

ParqEx’s solution for Zipcars accessing your private parking facilities lies with our Licence Plate Recognition technology. Instead of having to deal with parking passes in Zipcar’s visors or shared gate codes, ParqEx’s LPR cameras will scan all license plates entering and exiting your property, including all Zipcars. As these Zipcars each have their “home” parking spot on your property, they are already within the system as authorized vehicles. Now, your tenants and residents who utilize the Zipcars on-site will not encounter any difficulties coming and going from your property. Furthermore, with LPR utilized, the property’s overall security is heightened as property management staff keep a thorough and diligent eye on all real-time activities on the property.

The Result

For property owners with Zipcars or alternative car-sharing services like Turo or GetAround, we know we have addressed your question on how to simplify Zipcar access to your private parking. Our License Plate Reading technology strengthens the overall property security and facilitates the parking process for residents using the Zipcars.

Don’t overcomplicate things with parking passes and gate codes. Instead, learn more about our LPR technology amenity working alongside your Zipcar amenity and get in touch!

The post How To Simplify Zipcar Access To Your Private Parking appeared first on ParqEx.

Certain parking protections should be in place for a more secure and safe usage of a parking area. This article will cover some of the best parking protections that have helped secure and save countless parking structures for vehicles and motorists. Read on & check out these parking protections that redefine safety standards!

1. Bollards

Bollards, often overlooked, play a crucial role in redefining safety standards when it comes to parking protection. These sturdy and versatile structures are designed to provide a physical barrier between vehicles and pedestrians or vulnerable areas, ensuring enhanced safety and security.

Bollards are vertical posts or pillars, usually colored black and yellow, made from durable materials such as steel or concrete. They are strategically placed in parking lots, sidewalks, and other designated areas to prevent unauthorized access or protect against accidental collisions.

They’re a visible deterrent, signaling drivers to exercise caution and adhere to designated parking spaces.

At the same time, they protect pedestrians from vehicles while they’re on sidewalks. By creating a physical barrier between footpaths and roads for cars, these structures ensure that pedestrians can walk wherever they want without fear of getting hit by any motorized vehicle.

2. Parking ramps

One parking protection tool that has been beneficial, especially for urban settings, is parking ramps.

When you have multi-level parking structures, parking ramps help provide a safe and convenient solution for vehicle parking for all levels. These structures consist of multiple levels or ramps where vehicles can be parked, offering access to these parking spaces without using too much space to reach these higher levels. It’s an efficient use of space.

Parking ramps provide higher security and vehicle protection, unlike traditional open-air parking lots. They offer enclosed spaces that shield cars from external elements such as harsh weather conditions, vandalism, theft, and other potential risks.

Parking ramps have safety measures in place for ease of use but also to protect pedestrians and drivers. These structures often come with surveillance cameras, well-lit areas, and access control systems, ensuring a secure environment for vehicles and their owners.

Moreover, the design of parking ramps prioritizes pedestrian safety by providing designated walkways and marked pathways.

3. Road blockers

Another type of parking protection would be road blockers or in-ground road blockers. Road blockers are often used for hostile vehicle mitigation to protect high-security facilities such as airports, government buildings, or corporate headquarters. With their robust construction and reliable operation, these barriers prevent vehicle-based threats by impeding access to sensitive areas.

They are typically installed in-ground; you can raise or lower them as needed, blocking or allowing access to designated areas. This flexibility enables efficient traffic management and ensures that only authorized vehicles can enter or exit specific zones.

By implementing these advanced systems, parking areas can adhere to industry regulations and guidelines, enhancing overall user safety. Road blockers act as a deterrent against unauthorized entry, reducing the risk of accidents, thefts, or other security breaches.

4. Access control

Access control systems are vital if you want more control over who comes in and out of your parking spaces. Access control ensures that only authorized individuals have entry and exit privileges. It can restrict entry to designated parking areas, ensuring only authorized personnel or vehicles can enter.

This enhanced level of security can prevent theft, vandalism, and other criminal activities that pose a threat to vehicle owners.

Moreover, access control systems contribute to improved traffic flow within parking facilities. By efficiently managing entry and exit points, these systems help alleviate congestion and reduce the chances of accidents or collisions.

Furthermore, access control allows for better monitoring and tracking capabilities. With advanced technology, such as RFID tags or biometric authentication methods, it becomes easier to identify vehicles or individuals accessing the premises. This ability enhances security and aids in investigating any incidents within the protected area.

5. Parking chain barrier

Parking chain barriers are an excellent choice to secure specific parking spaces for VIPs. It’s great for when you want to show a difference between particular parking spaces from one another. Think of some open-air parking spaces like those in schools, malls, banks, etc.

With parking chain barriers, you can ensure that employees, important deliveries, and VIPs always have their parking space available for them to use.

6. Wheel stops

Wheel stops, also known as car park stoppers, ensure drivers have a guide on where to position their cars when they park. At the same time, it stops vehicles from going over the line of where they should be parking so that they don’t end up damaging their cars and others in the same parking area.

These tools are easy to install, are pretty durable, and should be visible.

7. Clearance bars

For indoor parking garages, having clearance bars is an excellent way of letting motorists know whether their cars could fit in it or not before they damage their vehicles. The height limit should indicate the lowest ceiling height and not just the entrance height of the parking garage.

8. License plate recognition system

A high-tech form of parking protection is license plate reading (LPR) technology, which is excellent if you have specific vehicles that allow access to your parking spaces.

When you have a license plate recognition system like the ones from ParqEx, you can automate parking access, especially if you’re managing a commercial parking garage that only allows specific people to access the parking spaces. For example, you can use this tech in a condominium or an office building.

9. Automatic gate barrier

Another security measure would be automated gate barriers, which are predominantly in certain spots, like if you have an underground parking garage. It’s best for places where planned entry is required, and it will deter some unauthorized vehicles from trying to get into the premises by force.

Often, automatic gate barriers are installed in malls where one can register a key or phone to enter the parking space with these items quickly.

10. AI Monitoring System

It’s no surprise that AI falls under the category of “parking protections that redefine safety standards!” An AI monitoring system is a tool that can make it easier for your security team to monitor your parking garage. It should help you observe suspicious activities, identify people, and even detect what could be unauthorized vehicles that have gotten into your parking garage.

11. RFID smart parking systems

RFID smart parking systems are an excellent choice for places like office buildings or condominiums to ensure that only the people who should be in the parking garage are the ones who can access them. It’s fast and easy, so it’s convenient for you and the people using your parking area.

12. Speed bumps and humps

Although many people might not like them, speed bumps and humps are there to force people to slow down essentially.

A lot of speedsters still manage to go above the parking area speed limit somehow, and having speed bumps and humps where appropriate can help avoid that so that pedestrians heading to their vehicles feel safe walking around your parking area.

These parking protections help motorists get to the parking space, help motorists park better, make pedestrians safe, and also keep your parking area secure in some way. Thus, if you’re managing a parking space, consider adding these protections to ensure your parking area is safe and secure for everyone.

Guest Blog Author: Andi Croft

The post 12 Best Types of Parking Protections That Redefine Safety Standards appeared first on ParqEx.