Shanghai transport authorities have suspended plans to install more electronic parking meters on the city's roads after a two-month trial, saying too many drivers refuse to use the devices and they lead to a large number of problems.

The city installed 27 electronic meters to handle parking fees for 99 parking spots on four downtown streets on May 20. The devices were supposed to reduce the workload for human parking monitors, but actually had the opposite effect.

"We've found many problems during the two-month trial," said Zhao Lanfang, an official with the Shanghai Urban Transport Bureau. "We'll study solutions and improve execution before spreading the meters to every corner of the city."

As many drivers don't have a public transportation card needed to pay the meters, they had to pay cash to employees overseeing the devices who then pay the meters with their own cards.

Only 10.6 percent of the drivers used their own cards over the past two months.

In addition, many drivers who parked for a short period tried to bargain with employees so they didn't have to pay the full 10 yuan (US$1.23) for an hour, Zhao said.

Nearly three-quarters of the drivers who parked longer than planned refused to pay the full fee and fled, she added.

In the meantime, some of the parking meters were intentionally damaged overnight.

Drivers have to pay 10 yuan for the first hour they park, and another 10 yuan for each additional 30 minutes. Many complain they must pay the additional 10 yuan even if they park for a minute more than one hour.

(Shanghai Daily August 1, 2005)