PARKING IS SOMETHING people love to complain about – whether it’s how bad someone does it or how you can’t get a parking space anywhere. Somewhat like the weather, it is a universal topic we all love to talk about.

Next week, a three day conference on parking is being hosted in Dublin, where delegates from around Europe will be discussing all matters relating to parking, from parking management to parking solutions.

Up to 500 international parking specialist delegates will be travelling to Ireland and it is estimated the conference, which is being held in the Convention Centre, could be worth as much as €1.5 million to the local economy.

It’s estimated that the parking control industry could be worth over €20 billion and employs more than 500,000 people across Europe.

Parking ideas

The Irish Parking Association says it is a “big coup” for the event to be held here, stating that the main topics that will be discussed will be innovative parking solutions in a Georgian City like Dublin, the use of cashless on-street parking and wireless parking that is being used in San Francisco.

Delegates will also be asking the question of whether in this recession is pay parking is killing the high street and what lessons can be learned from managing parking at such large scale events such as the London Olympics.

The opening address will be given by Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar.

Mr Keith Gavin, Chairman of the Irish Parking Association and co-ordinator of Congress organising committee said he believed that the the event ”will be of interest to the general motorists as well as public and other bodies” adding “the congress will add considerably to the knowledge of parking control and management in Ireland”.

Here is some bad parallel parking for your enjoyment:

(YouTube/Ciarán Shannon)

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