Magazines

Laura Lierz, CAPP, is the Vice President of Education & Municipal Services at Reimagined Parking. Find out why she earned her CAPP and how it’s impacted her career.

This March issue of Parking & Mobility explores innovative strategies for implementing smart parking concepts.

stock.adobe.com / Jamo Images The other day I was commuting to my office in Vancouver on one of the transit lines we have here, the West Coast Express (WCE). We approached the final station, and the train stopped; many of us were standing, ready to exit when the doors opened. But they didn’t. Typically, the doors open immediately to allow all the eager beavers to get to work. I think it was in the first few seconds that I subconsciously put my hand out to steady myself on the side of the train, as I instinctively knew that we had overshot (or undershot) our position and that the train was going to jolt in movement to readjust for us to exit. I didn’t realize I had done it until the next day when it happened again, and I noticed that most people very quickly did the same thing as I had done without thinking—two days in a row. We were all a bunch of trained train riders! It got me thinking about the first time this happened to me. I can’t remember it precisely, as it was not that impactful at the moment, but I suspect it goes something like this: the train stops, and I expect the door to open, but it doesn’t; I wait, wondering what is going on; the train jolts to move into the correct position, and I stumble, maybe bumping the person next to me, maybe multiple people collide like falling dominos, maybe someone even falls over. Ok, probably not, as I would have remembered that, but you get the picture. This is a quick, otherwise unimportant moment. Still, we instinctively file this away in our subconscious so that the second or third time it happens, we naturally move to accommodate the previously learned experience. What is the point of this story? Cities around us are changing rapidly. We see advancements in parking, transportation, and mobility from a technological, policy, and behavioral standpoint. These changes may make us uncomfortable, thinking, “What does this mean for me?” Some may have stronger feelings, fearful even, thinking, “How am I going to cope in this new way? Will I get left behind?” Some of us may be excited, but this thought piece isn’t meant for you… The wonderful thing about the human inherent ability to not only survive but thrive is that we both consciously and unconsciously adapt to change very quickly. One or two experiences can shape how we react to the next encounter we may have of the same kind. We often put little to no conscious effort into accommodating change around us. Think of your childhood neighborhood. Let’s assume you don’t live there anymore, and you go back to visit 20 years later. It will look wildly different, and you will likely immediately notice. You may not be able to place the specific differences, but you will absolutely know it’s different from what it once was. You weren’t part of the change; it happened without you, and you notice it’s different. Now think of where you live now, or perhaps where you lived for many years. Think of the building on the corner that is only two years old. What was there before, do you remember? Do you remember how the highway entrance and exit ramps were directing traffic five years ago before significant improvement? I would put money down that you don’t remember and that something that likely created a decent amount of impact in your life many years ago has become almost entirely forgotten because you adapted to the new building, the new roadway, the new payment method at the grocery store, the new app on your phone, the new… you get the point. Let’s go back to the first story I told and ponder the rapid evolution of our cities. It’s more likely that with one or two interactions with the change around us, we will naturally learn to not only cope but thrive in our new environments. Our lives will be enriched with new services, efficiencies, or enhanced protections we are all working to achieve. The old ways and what we used to do will be forgotten or replaced with a new, maybe just as good, maybe even better, way. And yes, perhaps along the way, we may “stumble” like we did on the train, but we will accommodate and evolve. Being part of the change will make it seem less disruptive, like our existing neighborhoods’ unnoticeable evolution, versus an unvisited childhood neighborhood dramatic change. As part of the IPMI Board of Directors, I’m excited to be part of this month’s magazine. I want to learn more about what is happening around us right now and what we can expect to see in our own neighborhoods and cities in months or years to come. If you know of something cool and innovative in a city near you, please get in touch with me. I’d love to hear about it! Happy reading, IPMI friends! ◆

Investors are making significant moves in the parking industry.

How Smart Cities Are Transforming the Parking Industry

Using Automated Parking Enforcement to Boost Urban Mobility

stock.adobe.com / Quality One There is no doubt about it, the parking management industry is rapidly evolving,and I’m really excited to be part of the business at the moment. We see more and more new technological developments that are designed to improve efficiency, improve the user’s experience, enhance revenue, minimize expenses, and, importantly, provide actionable insights into parking policy and decision-making. If you know me, you’ll likely already know this, but there’s one aspect at the heart of this transformation that I feel very passionate about. It’s a hugely valuable asset that’s often overlooked: data ownership. Look, I cannot say this enough—the principle of ensuring that you retain full ownership of your data is foundational to future-proofing business strategies and maintaining control over operations. I read a white paper a while ago by the World Economic Forum that clearly articulated the immense value of data and how it has singularly become the most valuable resource in the world due to its immense economic and strategic value. I will say it again; I am a huge advocate for businesses never having to compromise on data ownership. Why Data Ownership Matters Data is the lifeblood of most modern operations. For the parking industry, this may mean understanding who is using your facilities, when they are coming, how long they are staying, who is or isn’t paying for their parking, and so on. Ownership of this data allows businesses to make informed choices, create customized experiences, and plan for the future with a real-time understanding of patterns and behaviors. Losing control over such valuable information is basically losing control over a fundamental part of your business. Imagine a situation where, after investing time and resources into building a data-rich parking system, your technology provider decides to hold your data hostage, making you renew contracts just to keep access. This approach not only locks you into a provider’s ecosystem but also limits your ability to leverage insights freely. The Dangers of Data Dependence Many companies in this industry leverage a “lock-in” type model that’s based on data dependence. This model can lead to issues with both flexibility and independence. With data locked away, any strategy shift or transition to a new system can be challenging. If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a million times in a variety of ways—in essence, changing providers can feel impossible when data ownership becomes involved. Make sure that you are checking the fine print and not locking your data into one of these types of models. Inspiring Confidence Through Data Freedom When you own your data, you also own the ability to change, grow, and build upon it in ways that best serve your objectives. This kind of autonomy is critical to long-term success. Data freedom means just that. Your business is future-ready and unencumbered by data restrictions. This allows you unrestricted access to data, you can confidently strategize and adapt, unburdened by concerns of losing critical information to outdated contracts or parking systems. The Future of Parking Management Begins Here The future of parking management is bright, especially for those who place value on data ownership. It’s an era where technology and insights power business success without compromise, and where owners and operators can expect true autonomy over the information they rely on daily. Because in the end, it’s not just about parking cars; it’s about empowering businesses to steer their own course, build on their data, and shape their future with confidence. So, the next time you go to “sign on that dotted line” maybe you should double check the data ownership provisions. Because ultimately, owning your data or owning your future success. ◆

How Parking Marketers Can Foster Equity with Storytelling

Join Us at the 2025 MSTPA Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA!

As our urban areas transition to the smart cities of the future, traditional inefficient and limited parking systems are evolving into smart parking operations. How are smart city parking innovations reshaping urban centers, increasing sustainability, and improving the quality of life in our communities?

Unlocking Opportunities by Connecting Fragmented Journeys

Because of Parking Lots