Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Cleverciti, a global leader in intelligent parking and curb management solutions, has collaborated with the City of Gelsenkirchen to transform the parking experience for residents and visitors in the city. Through the integration of advanced sensor technology and innovative software solutions, Cleverciti aims to streamline parking navigation and reduce emissions in Gelsenkirchen's bustling district of Buer.

Spearheaded by the City’s new "Intelligent Parking System – Parking 2.0" project, as part of its Green City Plan, this initiative signifies a significant step toward congestion and air pollution control. Through this federally funded program, a cutting-edge sensor network, developed and implemented by Cleverciti, streamlines traffic caused by parking search, resulting in a significant decrease in traffic impacts and carbon emissions over time.

In its inaugural phase, the City and Cleverciti installed over 300 "overhead sensors" across Buer, monitoring approximately 2,000 parking spaces individually. This deployment marks the largest utilization of such a parking guidance system on public streets in Germany to date, providing real-time parking availability insights for nearly an entire district. Cleverciti collaborated closely with the City to realize this transformative project.

The project also included the integration of a new feature in the city’s existing mobile app called "Parking in Buer". This enhancement empowers users to quickly and easily locate available parking spaces in Buer, select, and be guided directly to the space, mitigating the need for aimless circling. Should their selected space become occupied en route, the system seamlessly reroutes them to the nearest available parking, circumventing unnecessary journeys through residential areas, saving time, and reducing congestion and emissions.

In addition, the system also integrates parking availability data from Gelsenkirchen's central parking facilities, providing users with comprehensive occupancy information for both on- and off-street locations. Further, the improved mobile app identifies designated accessible parking and electric vehicle charging stations, underscoring the City’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainability.

For City officials, the Cleverciti solutions offers unparalleled insights into public parking utilization, informing future traffic planning and policy development endeavors. Long-term observations on occupancy rates, average parking durations, and pressure in critical areas will enable data-driven decisions to enhance parking and mobility experiences well into the future.

Cleverciti SVP of Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, Dr. Günther Picker, stated “We are thrilled to be a part of this initiative to not only improve parking experiences for residents and visitors of Gelsenkirchen, but also taking steps to reduce traffic and emissions as part of the City’s important sustainability initiatives. This program is an important step toward creating a more sustainable, healthy, and comfortable community now and into the future.” 

Cleverciti and the City of Gelsenkirchen have not only revolutionized the parking landscape in Buer, while setting a new standard for urban mobility and environmental stewardship. Through the seamless integration of cutting-edge sensor technology and user-friendly software solutions, the project has helped to alleviate parking woes, while making significant strides towards reducing emissions and congestion. Looking ahead, this partnership serves as a testament to each organization’s shared commitment to building smarter, more sustainable cities, as well as driving innovation and positive change for the benefit of all residents and visitors in Gelsenkirchen and beyond.