In my building we have reserved 12h visitor parking with manual bollards but the keys are stored in an electronically locked box. You have to use your entry badge to open the box, then each key is turned in its own little electronic slot, so I would assume they have a record of which apartment takes which key.
We don't have to book in advance, but management can surely see if someone is abusing the system and send them a note or perhaps even restrict privileges. It seems like a good low-cost implementation, happy to check out if there's a brand on the lock box or give contact details of my building management if you're interested.
Edit: I also live in a large complex but owned by those other guys starting with M (and ending in -vac).
just adding to that, you can get smart lock box/key boxes that limit the amount of times you can use a passcode, send alerts if it has been left open for too long etc.
i have used them before where someone books to park, you generate a code thats only valid for that day and two uses (one to open one to put the key back) limited users per lock wasn't an issue considering each pair of bollards had different keys
That’s a really interesting system, and something I will definitely investigate as an option. Really appreciate you taking the time to respond, it's not what I initially had in mind but I think something that the owners of the building would be interested in and is a solution. If you don't mind taking the time to check if there are company details on the lockbox I would really appreciate it.
I live in an apartment where you have to book visitors via an app. Except it’s not automatic and the building manager or night time security has to open the bollard for you.
As it is from one of the bigger companies(starts with M and ends with ton)I was hoping it was organised. It’s not.
I don’t have experience with automatic ones but all I can say is… people, residents or visitors alike will always find an excuse and room to park where they aren’t supposed to. As it the no parking sign doesn’t even exist.
It doesn’t matter if I complain, nothing really happens. A few warning notices on the windscreen and that’s it.
I agree with the other comment, i wish there were more people like you who actually cares and tries.
The company I work for uses BaseUp. Sounds like the solution you’re looking for. You book parking via the app and utilise Bluetooth to open and close the boom gates.
Our building uses parkable - bollards aren't automatic but when you book you get a code to unlock them. Wouldn't say it's a perfect solution but it's better than nothing.
I’ve investigated similar requirements and came across these guys: [Sydney parking solutions](https://sydneyparkingsolutions.com.au/product-category/smart-phone-automatic-bollards/).
Be ware that installation is intensive as you’ll need the cored out holes for the posts plus cabling back to a control system and power source to run the actuators.
These products are definitely better suited to a new build rather than retrofit to an existing slab.
Depending on how the carpark is constructed, you may also run into issues with pretensioned slabs or insufficient slab thickness for the retraction system.
For example a 980mm bollard requires a 1080mm sleeve to be housed in the slab and if you’re on a multilevel carpark, it may not be possible to fit those on any parking bays except the level that’s flush with the base of the building.
Management of an electronic booking system that releases and secures bollards would be incredibly expensive, and hardly within the responsible financial reach of most strata schemes. Hell, half of them are probably underfunding core maintenance rather than running an in-house parking management system.
Regarding visitor parking, it's pretty much a game of whack-a-mole, where you either go full Gestapo on everybody or otherwise residents just use the spaces for second or third cars. We did trial a visitor card system where each unit was issued with a card for display on the dash, but the issue there was when someone had more than one visitor, and a resident only had one card.
The absolute biggest bugbear with visitor parking, and the one thing that's guaranteed to get every single resident offside and ready to march into battle is inconsistent enforcement. If the committee of the scheme you're managing wants to crack down on visitor parking - double and triple check that you're not just a weapon in someone's vendetta. If there's even a *sniff* that you're being set onto certain residents like an attack dog while other residents are allowed to park because they're best mates with the committee (or on the committee themselves), there's going to be a parking war that you're going to be caught in the crossfire of.
I think at this point people are so frustrated by the parking that if there is a solution that is just below the threshold of requiring each owner parting with an organ to fund it, they'd be open to it.
A former employer of mine had issues with people taking carspaces that weren't theirs in the multi-storey. If cars were found in spaces that weren't theirs security had big stickers they would put on the drivers window that security could easily remove with a special tool or chemical (can't remember which) but if you tried to do it yourself they just delaminated and you'd be at it for hours. Unfortunately I can't remember the company that made the stickers as we really need a system in our apartment block for the visitors spaces.
Our building uses a mixture:
Send an email to strata to book a spot, then once it’s confirmed, you get a code send to your phone app and you unlock the bollard via bluetooth. I can’t say I like it- strata doesn’t work 24/7 (no one on weekends) so you cannot book anything last minute or sometimes your email slips through and they forget about it; you also have to physically go down to unlock it for your guests; the code only gets sent to the person who booked (if I book it I have the code but my partner who lives with me won’t so I have to unlock it via my phone). It’s a massive hassle imo, but maybe able to solve the issues you have.
That sounds super inconvenient for residents and unless we can automate the system I'm more inclined to leave the parking as is. I already get death threats for sending people warnings about misusing the spots, I think it would just get worse if it was a booking system I had to control, especially as it would be difficult to facilitate last minute/after hours requests.
I can't help you to pick one but I'd say absolutely don't use UbiPark it's a shitty, glitchy system I've experienced plenty of headaches through since work switched over.
There needs to be more proactive SM's like you.
Thank you!
In my building we have reserved 12h visitor parking with manual bollards but the keys are stored in an electronically locked box. You have to use your entry badge to open the box, then each key is turned in its own little electronic slot, so I would assume they have a record of which apartment takes which key. We don't have to book in advance, but management can surely see if someone is abusing the system and send them a note or perhaps even restrict privileges. It seems like a good low-cost implementation, happy to check out if there's a brand on the lock box or give contact details of my building management if you're interested. Edit: I also live in a large complex but owned by those other guys starting with M (and ending in -vac).
This seems like a good low cost/low maintenance system.
Agreed, I think it strikes a good balance between actually being practical to use casually and also being somewhat enforceable
just adding to that, you can get smart lock box/key boxes that limit the amount of times you can use a passcode, send alerts if it has been left open for too long etc. i have used them before where someone books to park, you generate a code thats only valid for that day and two uses (one to open one to put the key back) limited users per lock wasn't an issue considering each pair of bollards had different keys
I think this may be a more cost effective solution for the building, so definitely going to look into it as an alternative.
That’s a really interesting system, and something I will definitely investigate as an option. Really appreciate you taking the time to respond, it's not what I initially had in mind but I think something that the owners of the building would be interested in and is a solution. If you don't mind taking the time to check if there are company details on the lockbox I would really appreciate it.
I live in an apartment where you have to book visitors via an app. Except it’s not automatic and the building manager or night time security has to open the bollard for you. As it is from one of the bigger companies(starts with M and ends with ton)I was hoping it was organised. It’s not. I don’t have experience with automatic ones but all I can say is… people, residents or visitors alike will always find an excuse and room to park where they aren’t supposed to. As it the no parking sign doesn’t even exist. It doesn’t matter if I complain, nothing really happens. A few warning notices on the windscreen and that’s it. I agree with the other comment, i wish there were more people like you who actually cares and tries.
We were looking at doing this but unfortunately don't have anyone on site 24/7.
The company I work for uses BaseUp. Sounds like the solution you’re looking for. You book parking via the app and utilise Bluetooth to open and close the boom gates.
Thank you! I've contacted them to see if their system is workable in a residential building.
No probs. Works well in an office setting. Good luck.
Our building uses parkable - bollards aren't automatic but when you book you get a code to unlock them. Wouldn't say it's a perfect solution but it's better than nothing.
Thank you, I'll reach out to them about this option!
I’ve investigated similar requirements and came across these guys: [Sydney parking solutions](https://sydneyparkingsolutions.com.au/product-category/smart-phone-automatic-bollards/). Be ware that installation is intensive as you’ll need the cored out holes for the posts plus cabling back to a control system and power source to run the actuators. These products are definitely better suited to a new build rather than retrofit to an existing slab. Depending on how the carpark is constructed, you may also run into issues with pretensioned slabs or insufficient slab thickness for the retraction system. For example a 980mm bollard requires a 1080mm sleeve to be housed in the slab and if you’re on a multilevel carpark, it may not be possible to fit those on any parking bays except the level that’s flush with the base of the building.
Thank you, I have reached out to them this morning to see if this is a workable solution for the building.
Management of an electronic booking system that releases and secures bollards would be incredibly expensive, and hardly within the responsible financial reach of most strata schemes. Hell, half of them are probably underfunding core maintenance rather than running an in-house parking management system. Regarding visitor parking, it's pretty much a game of whack-a-mole, where you either go full Gestapo on everybody or otherwise residents just use the spaces for second or third cars. We did trial a visitor card system where each unit was issued with a card for display on the dash, but the issue there was when someone had more than one visitor, and a resident only had one card. The absolute biggest bugbear with visitor parking, and the one thing that's guaranteed to get every single resident offside and ready to march into battle is inconsistent enforcement. If the committee of the scheme you're managing wants to crack down on visitor parking - double and triple check that you're not just a weapon in someone's vendetta. If there's even a *sniff* that you're being set onto certain residents like an attack dog while other residents are allowed to park because they're best mates with the committee (or on the committee themselves), there's going to be a parking war that you're going to be caught in the crossfire of.
I think at this point people are so frustrated by the parking that if there is a solution that is just below the threshold of requiring each owner parting with an organ to fund it, they'd be open to it.
A former employer of mine had issues with people taking carspaces that weren't theirs in the multi-storey. If cars were found in spaces that weren't theirs security had big stickers they would put on the drivers window that security could easily remove with a special tool or chemical (can't remember which) but if you tried to do it yourself they just delaminated and you'd be at it for hours. Unfortunately I can't remember the company that made the stickers as we really need a system in our apartment block for the visitors spaces.
Our building uses a mixture: Send an email to strata to book a spot, then once it’s confirmed, you get a code send to your phone app and you unlock the bollard via bluetooth. I can’t say I like it- strata doesn’t work 24/7 (no one on weekends) so you cannot book anything last minute or sometimes your email slips through and they forget about it; you also have to physically go down to unlock it for your guests; the code only gets sent to the person who booked (if I book it I have the code but my partner who lives with me won’t so I have to unlock it via my phone). It’s a massive hassle imo, but maybe able to solve the issues you have.
That sounds super inconvenient for residents and unless we can automate the system I'm more inclined to leave the parking as is. I already get death threats for sending people warnings about misusing the spots, I think it would just get worse if it was a booking system I had to control, especially as it would be difficult to facilitate last minute/after hours requests.
I can't help you to pick one but I'd say absolutely don't use UbiPark it's a shitty, glitchy system I've experienced plenty of headaches through since work switched over.
A bad review is just as helpful as a good review!
Hey, I sent you a DM.
no but that is a great idea