Choosing the right parking system is crucial for efficient and smooth parking operations. Whether freeflow or with barriers - this decision depends on the individual requirements and the general conditions of your parking area. In this article, we will explore when each system is most appropriate.
Contents
Important questions before purchasing a parking system
Commercial parking garage operators
Airports, train stations & park and ride facilities
Ski resorts, cable cars & other leisure facilities
Residential and office properties
3. Is the future barrier-less?
With or without barriers?
A freeflow system is especially beneficial when a large number of short-term parkers use your car park and only a small number of parking spaces need to be reserved for long-term parkers. If there are insufficient personnel resources for a 24-hour emergency call-out service, opting for a barrier-free solution is the better choice. In addition, the expanses for barriers and their maintenance are eliminated, and the flow of traffic is optimized.
Conversely, if your goal is to manage quotas and consistently reserve sufficient parking spaces for long-term parkers, a barrier system is the optimal choice. Barriers are also useful for parking areas that often reach full capacity. When the lot is full, the barrier simply stays closed.
You can find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of both systems in our blog article "Freeflow vs. barriers: advantages and disadvantages at a glance."
Important questions before purchasing a parking system
Before purchasing a new parking system, it’s important to decide whether one with or without barriers is needed. Making the right choice will help ensure smooth operation and prevent any potential frustrations. Consider these questions:
- How many short-term versus long-term parkers use your car park?
If more long-term parkers use your parking facility, a barrier system is recommended. For primarily short-term parking, a freeflow system offers greater efficiency. - Do you want to minimize administrative effort and on-call duty?
If reducing (staff) effort is a priority, a freeflow system is the better choice. However, if there are sufficient resources for an emergency call center, a barrier system can also be a good option. - Are there parking zones or quotas for certain user groups?
If zones or certain quotas are required, a barrier system is required. Freeflow systems do not support these features. - Does the parking area frequently reach full capacity?
If the parking area frequently reaches its full capacity, it is essential to prevent unnecessary entries. This can be effectively managed with a barrier system.
What fits your use case?
In the upcoming sections, we discuss our experiences across various industries and scenarios. However, it's important to note that a universal recommendation isn't feasible, as each parking area's specific needs must be thoroughly assessed to determine the best solution.
Professional car park operators
Professional parking operators often tend to rely on tried and tested systems that have proven to be reliable in ongoing operations. Large operators that manage more than 50 spaces often benefit from existing infrastructure, such as their own call center. This allows them to provide 24-hour on-call service for facilities with barriers without needing extra staff.
However, especially with a large number of parking spaces, it should be checked whether freeflow systems might be the more cost-effective option. For instance, converting half of the spaces to barrier-free systems could result in significant cost savings. Areas that consistently have available parking spaces and are not frequently filled to capacity are especially well-suited for this.
The Baden-Württemberg Parking Company (PBW) opted for Arivo's barrier-free solution in Tübingen to make parking easier for their customers and enhance the traffic flow.
Cities and municipalities
In the context of mobility hubs and smart cities, digitizing car parks plays a central role. Ticketless concepts and modern freeflow systems integrate seamlessly into this vision, offering a forward-thinking solution that greatly enhances user convenience.
Because these areas are funded by public money, cost considerations are often crucial. In the absence of in-house staff to oversee parking spaces, freeflow systems provide an economical and straightforward solution. They allow for easy management of parking spaces with minimal effort.
To reduce investment costs, existing facilities with barriers are often upgraded with license plate recognition. This eliminates the need for parking tickets and decreases continuous operating costs. Examples of this are the city garage in Dornbirn and two parking facilities in Tulln, Austria.
Airports, train stations & park-and-ride facilities
In these situations, the choice between a barrier or freeflow system largely hinges on whether the car parks are frequently fully occupied or if there is increased traffic during peak periods.
For instance, in cases like the closest parking spaces at airport terminals, a barrier system is essential to prevent overcrowding and to temporarily restrict entry when needed.
In the second scenario, like at train stations and park-and-ride facilities, a freeflow system allows for quicker entry and exit since there’s no physical barrier to slow down traffic. For instance, at Berlin's Ostbahnhof and some of the ÖBB P&R facilities in Austria, no barriers were deliberately installed.
Event centers
Barrier-free systems are often the better choice for event venues, whether they’re stadiums, theaters, convention centers, or exhibition halls.
After events, most visitors tend to leave all at once. Freeflow systems help maintain smoother traffic flow at parking entrances and exits during these peak times. Additionally, event venues often lack the staffing needed to maintain a 24/7 on-call service.
For these reasons, our customer, the congress center in Schladming, also relies on a barrier-free parking system.
Ski resorts, cable cars & other leisure facilities
The same applies to ski resorts or other tourist attractions, where many guests leave simultaneously when the lifts or facilities close.
In recent years, more and more ski resorts and leisure facilities, such as outdoor pools, have started to charge fees for parking. If existing staff should take on the additional tasks of managing the parking areas, the parking system should be easy to operate with as minimal effort as possible.
For leisure facilities and mountain railways, the choice of parking system is often influenced by the need for low maintenance and reduced personnel costs. For example, the Dachstein Krippenstein cable cars in Austria's Salzkammergut and the Geisskopfbahn in Bavaria have chosen a barrier-free system from Arivo.
Dominik Poschinger-Bray
Hospitals or clinics
Whether barriers are used at car parks of hospitals or clinics depends on how busy the parking areas are, if quotas need to be reserved for employees, or if separate parking zones are required.
If only a few parking spaces are shared by employees and visitors, a barrier system is recommended to easily manage long-term and short-term parking quotas. Where there's more space, a freeflow system might be a good alternative.
Residential and office properties
To make the most of parking space in residential and office buildings, opening access to short-term parkers can be a smart move. For this use case ticketless parking systems offer clear advantages, enabling seamless management with integrated payment options.
To guarantee that residents and employees always have access to a free parking spot, barrier systems or roller doors are essential for managing parking allocations. A prime example is the multifunctional complex 'The Brick' in Vienna. Home to the headquarters of brick manufacturer Wienerberger, the complex also includes a hotel and various offices, bringing together diverse user groups under one roof.
Unsure whether a freeflow or barrier system is the best fit for your parking area? At Arivo, we offer both options and are here to help you make the right choice. Contact Arivo now
Is the future barrier-less?
The market trend is unmistakably shifting toward freeflow systems. For many, the appeal lies in lower costs and reduced staffing needs. At Arivo, around 40% of our clients choose our modern, barrier-free system, and demand for freeflow options continues to grow steadily.
That said, both barriered and barrier-free systems are likely to coexist in the future. Barriers won't vanish entirely from parking facilities, as they still offer clear advantages in specific applications.
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Conclusion
Choosing between a freeflow or barrier system really depends on the specific needs of your parking area:
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Freeflow system: If most of your visitors are short-term parkers and you want to keep things simple, a barrier-less setup can save you time and reduce admin work.
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Barrier system: If you have a lot of long-term parkers, need to manage specific quotas, or your lot is often at capacity, a barrier system offers more control and organization.
Each option has its own strengths. Although the trend is leaning toward freeflow systems, barriers will continue to play a role in many parking areas.
No matter what you decide, it’s essential that it meets the needs of your parkers and aligns with your operational requirements. We’re here to help you find the right fit — just reach out, and we’ll guide you through the options!
With our ticketless parking system, you have the flexibility to choose—whether with or without barriers. If you’re interested, feel free to send us your inquiry. Contact Arivo now
