The method of operation is a parking facility’s fundamental service and control model: self-park or attended, gated or gateless, staffed or remote, and the mix of transient and monthly customers.
The method of operation drives staffing, technology, insurance and revenue design before any equipment is selected. It also shapes the building: an attended facility can use tandem stalls and tighter layouts, while a gated self-park needs entry and exit lanes sized for peak queues.
The main choices
- Self-park or attended. Who parks the car, and whether the operator takes custody. See self-park garage, attendant parking and garagekeepers liability.
- Gated or gateless. Physical barriers with PARCS, or open access with license plate recognition and enforcement. See gateless parking.
- Staffed or remote. On-site cashiers and supervisors, or remote monitoring and help through intercom and video.
- Customer mix. Transient, monthly, event, validated and pre-booked customers each need different controls and pricing.
The Parkonomics view
Changing the method of operation is a redesign, not a setting. Decide how the facility operates before deciding what it buys.
Related terms: PARCS, Gateless Parking, Self-Park Garage, Attendant Parking, Owner-Operator Agreement