Service for Advertising Parking
With over 50,000 students at UF, parking is often a tedious and lengthy process, especially on game days where there may be as many as 80,000 people trying to park for the game. Many people are forced to park off campus at apartments/houses who sell them parking, often for upwards of $30. However, many people are not able to find parking, as they do not know where these houses are located, or where they are even allowed to park on campus.
The Who: People attempting to find parking during UF game days
The What: Lack of knowledge about where parking is located on game days
The Why: People travelling from outside the campus do not know the layout of the campus, and cannot predict where people will be selling parking
Testing the Who: This problem will be primarily had by people who are travelling to UF for the game, and do not know where popular parking spots are. Not all people attending the games have this problem, as many already have parking (through their families houses). This problem is also extended mainly to those who show up to the games later, as some of the parking lots have been filled up.
Testing the What: A large majority of the people who are selling parking live close to UF, and usually all have their lots filled up. Some of them may not want to utilize the service (which would take a cut of the money they make for selling the spot) as they feel like the spot would be sold whether or not it was advertised.
Testing the Why: This service would be utilized by both those looking to sell parking, and those who are in need of parking. Both of these users have very different reasons, but they are both centered around there being a lack of available parking. This occurs often when games happen, but this service could also be used at other times. There are always parking issues at UF, and the service would allow people who may have extra spots at their house to make some money by leasing them to those who may not have available parking by them.
Interviews
Interview 1 - This interview was done by a young college male, who lives in an off campus apartment (within a mile of campus). When asked his thoughts on the service, he thought that it was a good idea, one which he would utilize. He said that he and his three roommates sell parking for each game, and can make an upwards of $160 by selling parking on a good day. When I asked him about the consistency of the money, he said that it depends who drives by that day. Since he does not necessarily live right by campus, he relies on luck that people will drive down his street looking for parking.
Interview 2 - In this interview, I asked a young college female how their parking experience is on football days. They said that they do not have a car on campus, but when their family comes in they often have to buy parking from the Frat Houses. She said this only occurs when her family is late to the game, however.
Interview 3 - For this interview, I went to a Frat House on campus who sells parking for the game. I asked one of the members, a young college male, what their thoughts were on the parking during games, and whether they have trouble selling parking. They said that they have more than enough people who try to buy their parking, because they are so close to campus and you basically have to drive by their house in order to get to the games. He said that their parking lots fill up with people almost 4 hours before the game starts.
Interview 4 - This interview was done with a worker at Tijuana Flats. When asked about their thoughts on parking for the game, the worker said that they do not go to games, and don't really know if any of their friends go to games often.
Interview 5 - This interview was given to the father of a student who attends UF. I asked the father about how often he attends UF for the games, and he said that he has only gone once (to the recent game). I asked him what his plan for parking was when he came, and he said that he didn't realize that parking would be such an issue. He stated that he had to pay $25 for parking at an off campus location (close to Chipotle by University). He also noted that he was almost late to the game, because he spent so long checking all of the UF parking lots for spaces, not even realizing that people sell their spots in off campus apartments.
Based off of these interviews, I still believe that there is a good opportunity to introduce a service which would allow people to advertise their parking during UF games. The first interview was my ideal person for this opportunity, someone who would sell their parking and is in need of a service to promote it. What I didn't realize until these interviews was the amount of people who either do not have cars, or do not care enough to attend the games (based on Interview 2 and 4). This may significantly decrease the amount of people who would have any use for the service, and would make it harder to utilize this opportunity (as it would be mainly based on word of mouth). Interview 5 was a good example of a person who would be used by my service, and proved that many people are unsure of their way around campus, especially during hectic gamedays.
With over 50,000 students at UF, parking is often a tedious and lengthy process, especially on game days where there may be as many as 80,000 people trying to park for the game. Many people are forced to park off campus at apartments/houses who sell them parking, often for upwards of $30. However, many people are not able to find parking, as they do not know where these houses are located, or where they are even allowed to park on campus.
The Who: People attempting to find parking during UF game days
The What: Lack of knowledge about where parking is located on game days
The Why: People travelling from outside the campus do not know the layout of the campus, and cannot predict where people will be selling parking
Testing the Who: This problem will be primarily had by people who are travelling to UF for the game, and do not know where popular parking spots are. Not all people attending the games have this problem, as many already have parking (through their families houses). This problem is also extended mainly to those who show up to the games later, as some of the parking lots have been filled up.
Testing the What: A large majority of the people who are selling parking live close to UF, and usually all have their lots filled up. Some of them may not want to utilize the service (which would take a cut of the money they make for selling the spot) as they feel like the spot would be sold whether or not it was advertised.
Testing the Why: This service would be utilized by both those looking to sell parking, and those who are in need of parking. Both of these users have very different reasons, but they are both centered around there being a lack of available parking. This occurs often when games happen, but this service could also be used at other times. There are always parking issues at UF, and the service would allow people who may have extra spots at their house to make some money by leasing them to those who may not have available parking by them.
Interviews
Interview 1 - This interview was done by a young college male, who lives in an off campus apartment (within a mile of campus). When asked his thoughts on the service, he thought that it was a good idea, one which he would utilize. He said that he and his three roommates sell parking for each game, and can make an upwards of $160 by selling parking on a good day. When I asked him about the consistency of the money, he said that it depends who drives by that day. Since he does not necessarily live right by campus, he relies on luck that people will drive down his street looking for parking.
Interview 2 - In this interview, I asked a young college female how their parking experience is on football days. They said that they do not have a car on campus, but when their family comes in they often have to buy parking from the Frat Houses. She said this only occurs when her family is late to the game, however.
Interview 3 - For this interview, I went to a Frat House on campus who sells parking for the game. I asked one of the members, a young college male, what their thoughts were on the parking during games, and whether they have trouble selling parking. They said that they have more than enough people who try to buy their parking, because they are so close to campus and you basically have to drive by their house in order to get to the games. He said that their parking lots fill up with people almost 4 hours before the game starts.
Interview 4 - This interview was done with a worker at Tijuana Flats. When asked about their thoughts on parking for the game, the worker said that they do not go to games, and don't really know if any of their friends go to games often.
Interview 5 - This interview was given to the father of a student who attends UF. I asked the father about how often he attends UF for the games, and he said that he has only gone once (to the recent game). I asked him what his plan for parking was when he came, and he said that he didn't realize that parking would be such an issue. He stated that he had to pay $25 for parking at an off campus location (close to Chipotle by University). He also noted that he was almost late to the game, because he spent so long checking all of the UF parking lots for spaces, not even realizing that people sell their spots in off campus apartments.
Based off of these interviews, I still believe that there is a good opportunity to introduce a service which would allow people to advertise their parking during UF games. The first interview was my ideal person for this opportunity, someone who would sell their parking and is in need of a service to promote it. What I didn't realize until these interviews was the amount of people who either do not have cars, or do not care enough to attend the games (based on Interview 2 and 4). This may significantly decrease the amount of people who would have any use for the service, and would make it harder to utilize this opportunity (as it would be mainly based on word of mouth). Interview 5 was a good example of a person who would be used by my service, and proved that many people are unsure of their way around campus, especially during hectic gamedays.
I think that idea is amazing. Growing up, I always went to UM football games. The stadium was in an area that had a strong residential presence immediately around it. It was always huge for the community to be able to buy parking in nearby houses instead of parking in cramped lots where it could take upwards of an hour to get out of on a busy game day. I feel that this offers a practical solution where people can take a one mile walk in order to have cheaper and more convenient parking for the game.
ReplyDeleteSchuyler,
ReplyDeleteThis is an incredibly interesting problem that you are attempting to address. I think your research shows that people would definitely be interested in advertising their parking availabilities online. I have to say, though, I do have a worry regarding this issue. The use of an online service where parking lots and prices would be listed could lead to some cannibalization of business. Sellers may simply keep trying to offer the cheapest parking possible, which could dilute the market to the point where the sellers are actually be hurt by the service rather than helped. I find the idea interesting, but I think it could have a ton of issues.