How Chania Made its Roads Inclusive with E-Parking

Here’s how Chania increased inclusivity in public spaces by implementing e-parking for people with disabilities.

Did you know that people with disabilities constitute the world’s largest minority? They account for 15% of the world’s population.

Currently, the world has over 1 billion people with disabilities, the majority of whom regularly face challenging marginalization and exclusion from society. This article focuses on how e-parking can change the everyday lives of people with disabilities by making it easier for them to move around the city.

People with disabilities regularly have to deal with non-inclusive environments while driving themselves. To parking and mobility easier for those with disabilities, the Municipality of Chania, located in Crete, Greece, has designed an elaborate e-parking system that makes parking spaces more accessible.

Non-Disabled Parkers Using Reserved Spots

Currently, the city of Chania has a total of 160 parking spots reserved for people with disabilities. However, most of these spaces were illegally occupied by able drivers. As a result, people with disabilities can’t find spots to park their cars and have to travel miles out of their way to find a parking spot.

To counter this problem, the Municipality of Chania developed has developed an innovative e-parking management system for persons with disabilities.

Read Also: How to Make Your Parking Lot More Eco-friendly

Solving the Problem Using E-Parking

Initially run as a pilot project, Chania’s integrated parking management system features Bluetooth-enabled cards for people with disabilities. These cards allow the real-time monitoring of available parking spaces through a mobile app. This makes it easier for those with disabilities to find spots reserved for them.

The system also eliminates the problem of non-disabled parkers depriving those with disabilities of accessible parking spaces. All reserved parking spots have ground sensors that update the occupancy status in real-time, feeding it to a centralized database platform. The traffic police use this platform to monitor the reserved spots so they can take action when the spaces are illegally occupied.

Better participation for people with disabilities

Chania’s e-parking system allows seamless mobility for citizens with disabilities, while stopping the encroachment of spaces reserved for them. Those with disabilities find it easier to integrate into the city’s day-to-day activities, improving their participation in urban life.

Within one year, the e-parking management system has reduced the illegal occupation of reserved parking spaces by over 60%.

People of Chania with disabilities have shown increased participation in bureaucratic and operations spheres as well, especially after the Municipality of Chania explicitly hired citizens with disabilities to build the city’s website and mobile app.

Tourist places, such as beaches, have also been made friendlier for those with disabilities. There are dedicated SEATRAC platforms that allow those with mobility issues to access the sea and enjoy the beach experience. Surveys on both tourists and residents with disabilities show that they’re happy with the improved accessibility of urban centres, thanks to the hassle-free parking system.

In summary

The e-parking system will undoubtedly improve the quality of life for Chanian citizens with disabilities. The city’s data shows that illegal parking will soon be completely eliminated in the next few years. This will increase urban access and encourage citizens with disabilities to have a stronger footing in an ableist society.

Many countries are taking cues from Chania and have started to develop accessible parking systems for inclusive mobility. With improved infrastructure, people with disabilities will have a way to overcome physical barriers and lead independent, fulfilling lives.