10/05/2002
Belfast parking meters enter swipe card era
Gone are the days of searching for the right change for the parking meter because from Friday, May 10, drivers in Belfast will be able to pay their parking tickets by credit card.
Over the past few weeks, the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service has been installing new parking meter machines, which accept payment from all Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Delta Charge cards in the Belfast City centre region.
At a cost of £500,000 the new machines replace older models which were due for renewal.
The system works using mobile phone technology and it takes only a few seconds for the ticket and receipt to be issued.
In addition to this the advent of this very latest technology for drivers in Belfast is the first of its kind to be used anywhere in the UK.
DRD Minister Peter Robinson said: “This investment of £500,000 keeps DRD Roads Service and Belfast at the forefront in terms of using the latest technology and providing the very best facilities for customers.
“The original machines, which provided a service for over 15 million customers since their introduction in 1987, were due for replacement and I am delighted that we are the first city in the UK to use this card reading machine on-street.
“With around 32,000 motorists using on-street parking in Belfast each week, this initiative will make short stay parking easier for everyone, including those who are short of change, shoppers and foreign visitors to Belfast who have no sterling.”
Friday marked the completion of the first phase of a scheme to replace around 110 existing Pay and Display machines in the ticket zone area at the back of the City Hall, bounded by Donegall Square South, Great Victoria Street and Alfred Streed, as well as the ticket zone to the north of North Street.
Phase two in the Smithfield and Chichester Street areas is due to get underway shortly and will be complete by the end of the summer.
(AMcE)
Over the past few weeks, the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service has been installing new parking meter machines, which accept payment from all Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Delta Charge cards in the Belfast City centre region.
At a cost of £500,000 the new machines replace older models which were due for renewal.
The system works using mobile phone technology and it takes only a few seconds for the ticket and receipt to be issued.
In addition to this the advent of this very latest technology for drivers in Belfast is the first of its kind to be used anywhere in the UK.
DRD Minister Peter Robinson said: “This investment of £500,000 keeps DRD Roads Service and Belfast at the forefront in terms of using the latest technology and providing the very best facilities for customers.
“The original machines, which provided a service for over 15 million customers since their introduction in 1987, were due for replacement and I am delighted that we are the first city in the UK to use this card reading machine on-street.
“With around 32,000 motorists using on-street parking in Belfast each week, this initiative will make short stay parking easier for everyone, including those who are short of change, shoppers and foreign visitors to Belfast who have no sterling.”
Friday marked the completion of the first phase of a scheme to replace around 110 existing Pay and Display machines in the ticket zone area at the back of the City Hall, bounded by Donegall Square South, Great Victoria Street and Alfred Streed, as well as the ticket zone to the north of North Street.
Phase two in the Smithfield and Chichester Street areas is due to get underway shortly and will be complete by the end of the summer.
(AMcE)
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