Drivers approaching a central area will generally have certain preferences
as regards their desired type and location of parking. These preferences will
vary according to the nature and purpose of their journey, their perceptions
of the characteristics of the parking stock and according to inherent
differences in the tastes and attitudes of different drivers. Drivers
perceptions of the parking stock will be based on their knowledge of the
spatial and temporal distribution of parking opportunities, the costs of
parking, relevant operating regimes, local enforcement practices and so on.
The quality and quantity of this knowledge will vary greatly according to the
drivers experience of the area in question and the availability of auxiliary
information from such sources as parking guidance systems (Polak et. al.,
1989, Young, 1986) or pre-trip information media. Those drivers possessing
good knowledge of the setting may be able to identify accurately the
specific on-street space or off-street facility they wish to use, while those
with inferior levels of information may only be able to form vague intentions
concerning the type and location of parking. In the extreme case of drivers
with no prior knowledge of the area, it is clear that no specific parking place
can be selected until at least some searching has been carried out to
establish the opportunities that are available.