Earlier this month, on February 6th, the world lost Professor Donald Shoup, a visionary who fundamentally reshaped how we think about parking, smart cities, and the way we manage both. Shoup’s work demonstrated that parking policies have profound consequences on urban planning, transportation, and even housing affordability. His influential book, The High Cost of Free Parking, revealed the hidden economic and social costs of treating parking as an unpriced commodity.

His work helped the world understand how we can revolutionise parking management through AI-driven automation, demand-based pricing, and real-time monitoring.

One of the most incredible insights of Shoup’s work comes from the way he challenges the deeply ingrained assumption that parking should be free or heavily subsidised. He argued that when curbside parking is unpriced, it leads to congestion, pollution, and inefficient land use. His advocacy for demand-based pricing—where parking costs adjust dynamically based on availability—sought to eliminate the frustrating and costly phenomenon of “cruising” for parking, which accounts for a significant share of urban traffic.

Shoup also highlighted how minimum off-street parking requirements led to overbuilt parking lots, driving up the costs of real estate and making housing less affordable. His work has, in the years since, inspired policies that have begun to roll back these mandates, paving the way for smarter urban development that prioritises people over cars.

As he well understood, pricing parking correctly was only part of the equation—enforcement was equally important.

Ineffective or inefficient compliance does have much the same impact as “free” parking. When people know they can get away with leaving their car in a parking spot for too long, you end up with the same issues with congestion. Our solutions, such as SenFORCE, which maximise the reach and accuracy with which compliance teams work, create the ideal outcomes that Shoup championed: Better moving traffic, less time taken to find a parking spot, and, generally, a more efficient city.

One of Shoup’s central proposals was dynamic pricing, where parking fees fluctuate based on demand to ensure that at least one space remains available on each block. SenSen’s AI-driven systems make this model easier to implement. Our technology monitors parking occupancy in real-time, and then provides the tools required to communicate the needed information around pricing to divers and citizens, allowing cities to adjust pricing dynamically to balance supply and demand.

One of the unintended consequences of poor parking policies has traditionally been the excessive allocation of land to car storage at the expense of more productive uses. Inspired by Shoup’s work, cities worldwide are now reclaiming street space for pedestrians, cyclists, and green spaces. SenSen’s technology facilitates this transition by enabling smarter parking turnover, reducing the need for vast parking lots, and optimising curbside management for ride-sharing, deliveries, and public transit.

In short, Professor Shoup’s impact on parking policy has been profound, but his work is far from complete. The movement he inspired—often referred to as “Shoupistas”—continues to advocate for smarter, market-driven parking policies. SenSen is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution, transforming parking management with cutting-edge AI solutions that embody Shoup’s principles.

Looking ahead, the future of parking will be defined by:

• Widespread adoption of dynamic pricing to eliminate congestion and reduce emissions.
• Automated parking enforcement that ensures compliance while lowering operational costs.
• Data-driven urban planning that integrates parking management with broader mobility solutions, including public transit and micromobility.
• A shift toward people-centric cities where parking is managed efficiently, freeing up valuable space for public amenities.

In remembering Donald Shoup, we recognise the power of research and advocacy to drive tangible change. His ideas laid the foundation for the smart parking solutions that companies like SenSen are now deploying worldwide. By turning his theories into action, we can create cities that are more efficient, sustainable, and livable for future generations.

Rest in peace, Professor Shoup — your legacy drives us forward.