A study of time loss in looking for parking space in Bangkok car parks

Abstract

This research is a study of time loss in looking for parking space in car parks in Bangkok. The purpose of the
study was to compare the energy and time consumption in finding a parking space between a car park with
indicated “free” parking spaces and a normal car park without information on the location of “free” parking
spaces, using mathematical model to consider the energy and time usage. The data were collected from 9
“park & Ride” parking areas comprising, 2 Parking buildings and 7 parking lots, with a total of 4,540 parking
spaces from which a sample of 368 was drawn. The result of comparison between the car park with known
parking spaces and the normal car park showed that the reduction in average time consumption in looking
for individual parking space was reduced by 17,597 – 1,223,878 minutes (293 – 20,398 hours per year). The
maximum time reduction was in the Lat Phrao station. The minimum time reduction was in the Bang Sue 2
station. The average reduction of costs of fuel consumption in each of the parking areas space was between
8,122 – 1,079,892 baht per year, with the maximum reduction found at Lat Phrao station and the minimum at
Bang Sue 2 station.