Parking Meter

Usability Study

by Taylor Roan

Current Design

There are hundreds of different types and styles of meters worldwide and throughout history. This section will focus on the meters located along Massachusetts Avenue and Sydney Street in Cambridge, MA in 2008.

Interface

Current meters have a relatively simple interface. The side of the meter that is visible from the street (shown below) shows a color (green in this case) in the display window. There is also key access to the insides of the meter on this side.

The side of the meter facing the sidewalk (shown below) is slightly more complicated. The display window had an LCD display and small color windows. There is a number printed on the window which allows the enforcing officer and maintenance crews to identify the meter. Below the display is a payment interface. There are two slots, one for coins and another for cards.

Fixtures

Parking meters are mounted on round metal tubes which are anchored in the sidewalk. Meters can be mounted either single-headed (left) or double headed (right).

Location

Meters are usually located on the sidewalk next to the center of the parking space or between parking spaces. The meter is inset a foot or two from the curb. However, there are many exceptions to all of these general guidelines.