Parking Services is conducting a pilot program with the Ganis Smart Park system - a portable meter that has been widely used in Europe where it is a leading portable, electronic parking meter operated within a parked vehicle.

Parking Services is introducing the Ganis Smart Park system as a way to provide customers with another parking option. The prepaid system consists of two components: a personal portable parking meter and a prepaid smart card. The meters can be programmed to count down prepaid minutes or hours at the same rate as regular parking meters. The countdown can be stopped when drivers return to their vehicles so the unused meter time can be saved for another day.

The portable meters are now available at Parking Services, which has obtained 50 of the devices. During the pilot program, the Smart Park meters will provide access to all parking lots, allowing short-term parkers increased mobility.

For details or to reserve a portable meter, call Parking Services at 5-0065 or stop by weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.