New wave and pay parking in London

For motorists heading into Central London, Westminster Council are introducing a new ‘wave and pay’ parking scheme where drivers will just wave a type credit card at the machine for payment. It is the latest step in the government’s initiative to make the country a cash free transport state. The new wave and pay system will assist motorists as they will not have to remember change for parking or use their PIN, making the whole process a lot quicker. The new machines are set to be introduced early next year at 20 places in the West End. If they prove successful they will be put to use elsewhere with Southampton being one of the first cities out of London.

The credit cards that will be used will not be personal cards from the likes of Visa or MasterCard; instead they will use the technology that has been used for paying for bus fares and other small items like coffee and papers. The cardholder receives a card and they effectively put money on it like a pre-paid credit card. It will be done this way to help alleviate potential fraud problems with stolen and cloned cards.

The British Government is currently in consultation about introducing Smart Cards up and down the country for all bus and rail journeys. The aim is to do away with the need for cash and tickets, which will in-turn, speed up the whole process from buying a coffee to jumping on a train from London to Glasgow.