By Jade Neville
For decades, parking and curbside management have been treated as operational necessities rather than strategic assets. However, that mindset is changing fast. Today, the curb is one of the most valuable, contested spaces in any city, and artificial intelligence (AI) is helping us manage it in ways that were previously impossible.
I’ve seen firsthand how AI is transforming parking, citation management, and curbside operations into a connected, data-driven ecosystem. The shift is not just about automation. It’s about giving cities the tools to make smarter decisions, improve compliance, and deliver better outcomes for their communities.
AI in parking: moving from reactive to predictive
Historically, parking systems have been reactive. Enforcement happens after violations occur, and policy decisions are often based on outdated or incomplete data. AI changes that model entirely.
With AI-driven analytics, cities can now understand patterns of behavior across their curbside network. They can identify where demand is highest, when violations are most likely to occur, and how different policies affect compliance. This insight enables a move from enforcement as a corrective action to enforcement as part of a broader strategy to influence behavior.
In practical terms, this means cities can deploy resources more effectively, reduce congestion, and improve safety. It also supports a more equitable approach to enforcement by ensuring decisions are grounded in data rather than assumptions.
Smart parking and occupancy management
One of the most immediate applications of AI is in smart parking and occupancy management. Curbside space is no longer static. It is constantly changing based on time of day, location, and competing uses such as deliveries, ride-hailing, and micromobility.
AI enables real-time visibility into how that space is being used. By combining data from sensors, mobile applications, and connected systems, cities can monitor occupancy levels and adjust policies dynamically.
This approach enables more responsive pricing strategies, better allocation of loading zones, and improved turnover of spaces. The result is not just increased revenue, but a reduction in congestion caused by drivers circling for parking. It also creates a better experience for users who can find and use spaces more efficiently.
LPR and AI-enhanced enforcement
Although license plate recognition (LPR) has been part of enforcement for years, AI is taking it to the next level. Traditional systems capture data. AI systems interpret it.
By integrating LPR with AI-powered image recognition and analytics, cities can automate much of the enforcement process while maintaining accuracy and fairness. Violations can be detected in real time, supported by high-quality evidence, and processed through streamlined workflows.
By combining automation with human oversight, cities can ensure that enforcement remains both efficient and accountable.
A Real-World Example: LA’s ABLE Program
A powerful example of what this looks like in practice is the Los Angeles Automated Bus Lane Enforcement (ABLE) program. Delivered as a partnership by Hayden AI, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), and Trellint, this initiative demonstrates how AI can transform enforcement at scale.
Hayden AI deployed AI-powered camera systems on Metro buses to monitor bus lanes and bus stops. These cameras automatically detect and capture violations, generating high-resolution image and video evidence.
That evidence is then transferred to Trellint’s systems, where it is organized and prepared for review. City staff validate each case to ensure accuracy, and confirmed violations are processed through a citation management platform for issuance and resolution.
This end-to-end workflow is key. AI handles the detection and data capture, while human review ensures fairness and compliance with policy. The result is a system that is both scalable and trustworthy.
The impact goes beyond enforcement. By keeping bus lanes clear, the program improves transit reliability, enhances safety, and ensures that buses can serve riders more effectively, particularly those who rely on accessible boarding.
Smart analytics: turning data into action
AI does more than automate processes. It unlocks the value of data.
Through advanced analytics, cities can identify trends in violations, measure enforcement effectiveness, and refine their strategies over time. Predictive models can recommend where to deploy enforcement resources, how to adjust pricing, and when to intervene to prevent congestion. In this way, cities can achieve better outcomes, including everything from optimizing enforcement routes to improving collection rates and ensuring that penalties are applied in a way that is both effective and equitable.
Balancing technology and trust
As AI becomes more integrated into parking and curbside management, maintaining public trust is critical. Transparency, accuracy, and fairness must remain at the core of every system.
That’s why the most effective deployments combine AI with human oversight. Technology can process data at scale, but people remain essential in validating decisions and ensuring that enforcement aligns with policy and community expectations.
Looking ahead
We are only at the beginning of what AI can achieve in this space. As cities continue to evolve, the curb will play an even more central role in urban mobility.
From my perspective, the question is no longer whether cities should adopt AI, but how quickly they can do so in a way that delivers real value. The combination of smart parking, AI-enhanced enforcement, and advanced analytics is already proving its impact.
Now, it is about scaling those successes and continuing to innovate.
Because when we get curbside management right, we are not just improving parking. We are improving how cities move, how they operate, and how they serve their communities.
JADE NEVILLE is a director for the Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS), technology representative on the Council of Representatives at the British Parking Association, and the sales operations and marketing manager for Trellint. She can be reached at [email protected].
