Making mall parking a bit easier -- in Century City at least

Nothing can ruin a trip to the mall like the horrors of parking -- particularly on the Westside. Ever try to find a place in the Beverly Center the week before Christmas? Or at the Grove? Well, the mall in Century City has a massive underground parking lot -- and officials have introduced a new high-tech system designed to make parking easier. Mall giant Westfield got the idea from a center in Australia. According to City News:

"An electronic parking system that went into operation today at Westfield Century City is designed to cut the time needed to find a space by 55 percent. 'Park Assist' uses a series of colored lights and signs to direct drivers to the closest available parking spot. Each space has a sensor that detects vehicles and transmits data in real time to lights and signs that immediately show open parking spots on each row and each specific parking space. Lights also indicate whether a space is occupied. The system has been used in Europe and Australia. The ease of parking has led to shoppers returning more often and a 2- to 5-percent increase in retail sales at Westfield’s Chatswood shopping center in Australia, according to a study conducted by an independent consultant for the mall owner."

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Susan Shemin]

Interestingly, I was just there yesterday and saw the lights. I knew the lights indicated which spots was available, but the lights weren't working correctly, and there were spaces with green lights that had cars. The system is only beneficial if it works properly. It looks like Christmas in September!

[Donna Barstow]

I'm very thankful when I can go a year without going to Century City, so hopefully I'll never see this in action, but the light system forgot something:
How to alternate SUVs and normal sized cars in the compact spaces, so that my normal sized car will always be squeezed between behemoths, and we can all bang each other in greeting.

[jamie winehouse]

I think this is a great product. I used it yesterday and would never shop anywhere else on weekends. Nicely done Westfield, my only question is why this System is not running in the other malls, it's fantastic!

[JohnB]

It's brilliant, I saw it in use the last time I went.

Although their parking structure is still very confusing. I almost dare you to park, come up one of the colored entrances, escalators, then use a different escalator when coming back and try to find your car. Or come back on a different floor at a different escalator and find your car.

I also agree, bigger spaces for SUV's, smaller spaces for normal cars. That would be very efficient.

[Sal B]

@John B:

"I also agree, bigger spaces for SUV's, smaller spaces for normal cars. That would be very efficient."

Spaces are already marked for "compact" cars, the problem is that SUVs', monster pickup trucks' and huge cars' drivers ignore the markings. They park wherever they like and to heck with everybody else.