The city of Sens, located in the heart of Burgundy, is a medium-sized town that suffered from congestion and parking problems despite a sufficient number of parking spaces. Traffic jams and long waits for parking spaces were a daily occurrence for locals and visitors alike. To remedy this situation, we deployed the Cocoparks intelligent parking solution, connecting all key city-center parking lots in real time and displaying availability on dynamic panels. The project also includes an emphasis on PMR (Personnes à Mobilité Réduite) parking spaces for improved accessibility.
Context: Sens Parking Challenges
Sens, a dynamic, historic city with a population of 28,000, was facing parking problems despite a sufficient number of parking spaces. The main challenges were :
Traffic jams :
Downtown streets, especially Main Street, were frequently congested, mainly due to cars looking for available parking spaces. This phenomenon was exacerbated during peak market periods, when the town attracted its entire urban area (80,000 inhabitants).
Search time :
Drivers spent a considerable amount of time, sometimes more than 20 minutes, looking for places, contributing to pollution and stress.
Visibility of Locations :
Although parking spaces were available, their lack of visibility prevented optimal use of parking options in the town center. A roundabout system structured mobility in the heart of the town, but made the search for parking spaces sub-optimal.
The solution: smart parking in the heart of town
To solve these problems, the Cocoparks intelligent parking solution has been implemented throughout the city center. More than 400 places are now connected in real time.
Smart parking made in France: real-time data and dynamic displays
- Real Time Connection :
- All the key parking lots in Sens city center have been equipped with intelligent sensors to monitor space availability in real time.
- Dynamic Panels :
- Dynamic signs have been installed at strategic points around the city to display parking availability in real time. These signs also indicate spaces reserved for PRMs, guaranteeing optimum accessibility.
- Mobile application :
- Complementing the signs, a mobile application enables users to check parking space availability from their smartphone, making it easier for them to plan their journeys.
Intelligent parking in Sens
An innovative, multi-phase project
Initially, an experiment was carried out in the Abbé Poupon parking lot.
En l’espace de 4 mois, la ville a observé une augmentation de 19% du taux de remplissage du parking de l’Abbé Poupon ! Alors que celui-ci est en plein coeur de ville, mais il était trop peu visible et lorsque l’on s’engageait dans la rue qui y mène, il était difficile de retrouver un parking facilement. Cela dissuadait certains habitants de s’engager vers ce parking idéalement situé.
M. Julien Gaidot, DST de la ville de Sens en 2022
Sens smart parking lots map – Cocoparks webapp view
Digital signage in Sens
Numerous dynamic signposts provide real-time information in the heart of Sens, with special displays for the disabled.
These panels can be controlled by the city directly from a smartphone or computer.
Benefits of smart parking in Sens
The deployment of the Cocoparks solution is bringing significant benefits to Sens, for residents, visitors and the municipality alike.
Reducing traffic congestion :
Thanks to real-time information, the time spent looking for parking spaces has been reduced, thus easing congestion on downtown streets.
Optimizing seat use :
The increased visibility of available spaces has led to a 25% increase in the use of existing parking lots, notably the Abbé Poupon parking lot, maximizing the efficiency of the existing infrastructure.
User satisfaction :
User surveys show a 40% improvement in satisfaction with the parking experience in the city.
Improved accessibility :
Highlighting the PRM spaces not only facilitated access for people with reduced mobility, but also raised public awareness of the importance of these spaces.
Environmental impact :
The reduction in time spent searching for parking spaces has contributed to a 15% reduction in parking-related CO2 emissions, bringing the city into line with its sustainable development objectives.
Conclusion: a solution within reach to revitalize the city and reduce emissions
The intelligent parking project in Sens, in partnership with Cocoparks, is a perfect example of how well-established technology can solve major urban problems. By connecting downtown parking lots in real time and displaying availability on dynamic panels, we’ve transformed the parking experience in Sens, making the city more accessible, less congested and more enjoyable for everyone.
