Nagasaki - parking lot parking mechanism???

[gene101]

Hi, while I was walking back to the Nagasaki port where our cruise ship was docked, We noticed a small park near the harbor with a small parking lot. There was a metal leaf with a small box next to it (I believe it is a motor) in the middle of each parking slot. I saw a driver backup to the parking spot and the metal leaf would rise to stop the car from pulling away. I am not sure when did the leaf risen. I think the driver had to go to the stand next to the entrance to punch in his or her parking slot number and pay a fee before the leaf came down.

 

I am not really sure how this work, but it fascinates me.

 

Does anybody can tell me how this mechanism works??

[mrlevin]

You have it right. The sensor senses a car in the spot and raises the bar to keep the car in. When the driver leaves, he punches in his spot number and pays which then lowers the bar. This is the standard car park configuration in Japan. In Tokyo, parking is at such a premium, that I have seen buildings torn down just to set up a two parking spot car park.

 

Marc

[gene101]

Thanks for the clarification.