Digital parking space management instead of a defective barrier

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A broken entrance barrier is equally annoying for visitors and parking lot operators. Unfortunately, this situation is not uncommon: faulty barriers regularly prevent smooth entry and exit to parking spaces. We'll show you how to best deal with this issue and how you can avoid it in the future. In this article, you will find information for parking operators and parking people!

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Defective parking barrier: Information for parking operators

‍Should the barrier system on your parking area be defective, you must of course take care of it as soon as possible. If the barrier does not open, they must free road users trapped in the parking area as quickly as possible. In order not to incur the wrath of customers, the barrier usually remains open permanently in the event of defects. You may even have to temporarily close your parking space completely if it is no longer accessible due to a defective parking barrier or if there are even safety risks. As a result, you will have lost revenue in the meantime because you cannot check incoming and outgoing vehicles and their length of stay.

Repair or replace a parking barrier?

If the reason for the barrier defect is not obvious, you should first investigate the causes or arrange appropriate specialists to identify the problem with your barrier system. Based on this, it is possible to decide whether a repair or a completely new barrier is the better solution. Unfortunately, both options usually come at a high cost. They must also expect surcharges if the defect occurs late in the evening or at night, as this usually requires a 24/7 service. The prices for modern barriers, special spare parts and assembly services should also not be underestimated. Depending on the case of damage and the model of your barrier, there may also be a long waiting period for the delivery of spare parts. Spare parts may no longer be available for older barrier models.

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Parking without barriers

A defective parking barrier always entails effort and costs for parking space operators. But these circumstances can simply be a thing of the past. Wondering how? Nowadays, there are intelligent Systems with automatic number plate recognition, which work without a parking barrier. Your customers can simply drive into the parking lot. Cameras automatically record license plates at entry and exit in compliance with data protection regulations. The system compares the parking stays recorded in this way with the applicable maximum parking period or checks whether the parking fee has been paid. Parking people simply pay for their parking stay by entering their license plate number. This means that the parking process, including payment, takes place completely without barriers and tickets. Susceptibility to faults is almost completely ruled out here, as the system uses virtually no components that are susceptible to wear.

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Leave the costs and hassles associated with defective parking barriers behind you. We would be happy to show you how you and your customers can benefit from our solution for digital parking space management.

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Checklist: car park barrier broken, what now?

When the barrier fails, the right order matters most. These steps help operators in the first few hours:

1. Free trapped vehicles: Open the barrier manually or call the service team so that nobody is stuck on the site.
2. Secure the hazard: If the barrier arm is hanging crooked or blocking the lane, cordon off the area.
3. Inform drivers: Put up a notice with a phone number at the entrance and exit so that drivers know whom to contact.
4. Document the fault: Record the time, photos and error messages. This helps the specialist contractor find the cause.
5. Commission a specialist contractor: Contact the maintenance service or the manufacturer of the system.
6. Record the downtime: Note how long the site was without control. This makes it possible to quantify the loss of revenue later.
7. Decide: Repair, replace or switch to a barrier-free system. You will find a decision aid further below.

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Parking barrier broken: Information for parking people

You ask yourself: What do I do if a parking barrier is defective? Do you want to drive into a parking area as usual, but are suddenly faced with a closed barrier? Do you notice that the barrier system is broken and won't open? In this case, unfortunately, you have no choice but to look for an alternative parking space. Especially in urban areas or under time pressure, the search for parking spaces can quickly lead to stress.

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If you drive to the parking lot more often, it may also be in your interest to be able to use the parking space again quickly. If it appears that the operator is not yet aware of the defect, you can inform him of this by telephone. The contact details are usually posted at the parking lot or in the parking garage.

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Parking barrier no longer opens

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It is even more annoying when you have already parked and notice when you drive out that the barrier remains locked and blocks your way to freedom. For such situations, you will usually find a help button at the exit barrier, which you can press. Even in this case, you can try to contact the operator directly.

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However, in either case, you don't know how long it will take until you really get help. You may have to wait a few more hours before you can leave the parking area with your car.

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Hassle-free parking

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In fact, you can now easily avoid unpleasant situations that trigger broken barriers: Modern parking spaces are already equipped with digital systems and therefore function completely without barriers. Instead of drawing a parking ticket, they travel seamlessly without stopping and cumbersome maneuvering when pulling tickets at the barrier onto the parking area. The digital parking system is license-plate-based. Your license plate is recorded at entry and exit and stored — encrypted in accordance with data protection regulations, of course. You pay using your license plate number via app, online or classic at a vending machine. Nothing can stop you at the exit and you leave the parking area just as relaxed as you arrived. Learn more about smart parking solutions as part of a digital future.

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Bergisel — Where visitors travel on unhindered

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At the parking area at the Bergisel ski jump in Innsbruck, there were recurring problems with the existing barrier-based parking space management system. If the barrier system failed, guests had to wait until the security service arrived and opened the barrier manually. For the operator, the system generated costs and expenses.

Peter Park's barrier-free system solution has been in use on the parking area since autumn 2023. Bernhard Niggler, managing director of Bergisel Betriebsgesellschaft, explains the reasons for the change: “Many of our guests are tourists who plan to visit Bergisel as part of their vacation. With the limitless, digital solution, parking users can leave at any time. Because of reliability and the associated customer convenience, among other things, we decided to introduce this new innovative solution at Bergisel.”

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When driving in and leaving the parking area, a scanner now reads the license plates of the vehicles and the parking time is automatically determined. Parking people pay for their parking stay with their license plate. Peter Park's installed system thus offers a modern and user-friendly parking experience and reduces effort and costs for Bergisel Betriebsgesellschaft.

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Repair, replace or switch? A decision aid

Not every defect is a reason to get rid of the barrier system. These questions help with the decision:

• Repair: Suitable if the cause is clear, spare parts can be delivered quickly and the system has rarely failed so far.
• New barrier: An option if the system is old and spare parts are no longer available, but you want to continue relying on a barrier.
• Switching to a barrier-free system: Worthwhile if the barrier fails repeatedly, tailbacks build up at peak times or staff regularly have to open the barrier by hand.

The comparison of parking systems shows how the systems differ in purchase, maintenance and staffing effort. You will find an overview of the cost components in the article Costs in parking management.

How does the switch from a barrier to a barrier-free system work?

The change is easier than many operators expect, because hardly any hardware is needed on the site:

1. Assess the site: Entrances and exits, camera locations and the desired payment options are defined together.
2. Set the rules: Maximum parking period, tariffs and authorisations, for example for employees or long-term parkers.
3. Install cameras and signage: From then on, cameras at the entrance and exit capture the licence plates, and signs explain the rules.
4. Decommission the barrier: The old system can stay open or be removed.
5. Launch and evaluate: In the software, operators see occupancy and parking sessions and can adjust rules as needed.

You can read what else to consider during the introduction in the article Introducing parking management.

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Conclusion — manage and use parking space in a relaxed way without barriers

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Digital, barrier-free parking systems offer your visitors a pleasant parking stay. Barrier problems are completely a thing of the past! You save effort and costs because these solutions are software-based. Wear, lack of spare parts and repairs no longer affect you.

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