Flowbird goes contactless in Minneapolis

Pay by space parking kiosks wirelessly communicate to analytics platform, firm says
Parking & Access Control / January 28, 2021
By Ben Spencer
Flowbird’s kiosks are solar-powered and are equipped with a 9.7” full colour touch display (Credit: Andreas Jansson from Flowbird America)
Flowbird’s kiosks are solar-powered and are equipped with a 9.7” full colour touch display (Credit: Andreas Jansson from Flowbird America)

Flowbird North America has replaced its Pay by Space parking kiosks with 700 contactless CWT touch screen smart kiosks in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The US city's current parking system covers around 8,400 parking spaces. 

Flowbird says users can now pay with their contactless credit and debit card or digital wallet such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, allowing a swift 'tap and go' payment process at the kiosk. 

All kiosks are solar-powered and equipped with a 9.7” full colour touch display that resembles the look and feel of a tablet, the company adds. 

The kiosks wirelessly communicate to Flowbird's analytics platform, which the company insists provides the city with the tools analyse parking activity trends and streamline operations. 

According to Flowbird, all paid information is communicated wirelessly with the city's citation insurance system provided by Gtechna. 

The new kiosks will continue to utilise a Pay by Space parking configuration. Users enter their parking space number, the duration of their stay and make their payment. A new text receipt option will replace previous paper recipients and printers.

Flowbird smart kiosks are used throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul region for on-street parking, parking at city parks, and for off-board fare collection for Metro Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit system.

Aside from parking, Minnesota has been taking steps to promote electric mobility. Last October, the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul invited community members to learn more about its Twin Cities Electric Vehicle Mobility Network at online meetings. 


 

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