Parking in London

Has anyone had experience of parking in Central London recently?

It seems that the majority of parking meters have now been turned into pay by text. Yesterday I succeeded in registering my credit card and mobile phone number but the system could not understand my number plate - or I did not understand how to enter it so ended up searching for a traditional meter which I did eventually find. However there were literally loads of empty "text" meters.

Rang Westminster parking today and got through to a human and finally registered my car. So in theory it should be easier in future and remove the necessity of carrying round loads of pound coins. AND if you park on a 4 hour meter for 2 hours and decide you need more time you can just text to pay more so thats useful but you cant stay more than 4 hours without moving the car.

BUT it is not easy to register, even the Westminster telephone lady said it was not easy, but she also said it was also meant to discourage people from driving in town. However its a bit late if you have driven into town and then cant find anywhere to park.

[Scrooge]

Wow, what a great idea....just as long as it works

[Neil]

They were talking about this/trying it out on last weeks Top Gear, haven't watched it all yet but from what I did see they were moaning about complicated it was.

I was part of a trial for the local council about 5 years ago in Hull for parking/paying by text, I have to say once I was registered it was very good as I am one of those people who doesn't carry cash ever so it opened up where I could park.

Neil

[HighFlyer]

Is it a company called RingGo that administrate it?

My local train station car park used to be pay by foot and now its pay by phone with RingGo. When i first had to register it was a nightmare as the voice recognition software they used was rubbish. I even attempted to read my licence plate out in the style of Prof. Steven Hawking in case that helped. Its a cumbersome process to begin with but i actually prefer it now as i dont have to find loose change at the last minute (i rarely carry cash), plus i can extend my car parking session without actually having to go back to my car, so there are merits to it.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by Neil


They were talking about this/trying it out on last weeks Top Gear, haven't watched it all yet but from what I did see they were moaning about complicated it was.

Clarkson and crew absolutely slammed it as per their usual style, it was fairly amusing..

The system in place does look very tedious however it could be purely how they portrayed it...

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Originally posted by Neil
I am one of those people who doesn't carry cash ever

So what does the queen carry in her handbag? [:w]

GJ

But to be fair GJ, the majority of the population of Hull don't have cash ever.

[Neil]

I try and be helpful and give information regarding my own experiences and you two just have to be derogatory about somewhere you have no personal experience of, you should both be ashamed.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
It's Richard's fault. All of it. [}:)]

GJ

Actually, for once it is...LRoM say you are sorry...and please let us try an keep the thread on what I find to be an interesting subject.

I think everyone's giving LRoM a hard time for no reason. He was merely stating the obvious! [:o)]

At the risk of spoiling the banter, I am returning to Knightsbridge and the West End tomorrow and will have to try again and park. As it is operated by Westminster Council, dont think it applies in Knightsbridge but will be back in the text meter area and will try my texting.

I agree with GJ, when I text when in the US, my stateside friends are amused at the frequency of the messages and how conversations bounce back and forth - but then we do not have over here the ability to use a cell phone as a walkie talkie.

[fozzyo]

They have Pay by Text or Phone in Birmingham - its a great service. particularly for the times you park, think your going to be x hours but over run. Its nice to be able to just call up and extend the booking.

Though it was a bugger to set up initially! But quiick and easy to use now.

As for parking in London, we usually use an NCP carpark not far from Hammersmith station and use the joys of LU and Oyster.