Murphy's Law seems to be in control of the city's efforts to update its parking system. Today, the signage explaining how to pay for onstreet parking began appearing in the blocks of Warren Street below Third, but, alas, the signs, which are attached to lamp posts, are positioned so high that it is impossible to scan the QR code or even to read the numbers and codes needed to make a payment.
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| Photo courtesy Rachel Careau |
Addendum: Rob Perry, superintendent of Public Works, took issue with the statement that it was impossible to scan the QR code because the signs were positioned too high. He offered this advice: "Just hold your phone up and 'zoom.'" He provided these photographs to demonstrate how it's done.
Gossips stands corrected.
Simply unbelievable !
ReplyDeleteOK, we’ll zoom in, but why make the process more difficult than it already is?
ReplyDeleteGiven the reach of the Internet, I wonder if people around the globe are monitoring the follies in Hudson and yukking it up? ~ PJ
ReplyDeleteI, in Greenport, sure am.
DeleteI heard recently about a practice called “squishing” which entails a bad actor putting a QR code sticker over a valid QR code in a real ad or other posting. When the user clicks through the squished code it’s to a malign site. So perhaps placing the signs above “squishing height” is smart (advertant or otherwise).
ReplyDeleteIt was easier to just put in a quarter.
ReplyDeleteOf all the options, why didn’t they just upgrade the meter heads to modern digital smart ones that take coin and card? Globally programmable, and you can still have an app for those that want to pay that way. Up the price, and add meters to the rest of Warren? Sure they cost money, but that’s what the price increase is for. Also would spread out the infrastructure—one meter head is cheaper to replace than a kiosk that gets vandalized or run over.
ReplyDeleteI understand that DPW installed the signs, and that they had to, but that should be the extent of their involvement. If DPW installed the signs for HPD/the parking bureau, why is Rob Perry answering questions about parking matters, including what the signs do or don't do and how they work? What is on the signs is no business of Rob Perry's. Ever. He is in the sign installation business, not the sign interpretation business. Should he be answering questions about how the kiosks work that his department installed? Of course not! Would it make any sense for him to post on Facebook detailing how well the scannable signs work? No. Stick to what you're paid to do, don't confuse matters (this is a big problem at City Hall!). Parking is not in DPW's purview, it never has been and it never will be. It's now in HPD's hands. All questions regarding parking should be directed to and answered by our chief law enforcement officer...When she has time in between crime solving and maternity leaves.
ReplyDelete