For people living with a physical disability, a car is often far more than a convenience. It is a means of independence — a way to participate in everyday life on your own terms. But that independence depends on being able to park close to your destination. When disabled parking spaces are hard to find, the car that was supposed to open doors can quickly become just another obstacle.
Fredericia Municipality set out to change that. By equipping every disabled parking space in the city centre with real-time sensors, the city has made it possible for residents to find available spaces before they arrive — and given itself the data it needs to keep improving.
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The Challenge
Disabled parking spaces in Fredericia were present, but invisible. There was no way for a driver to know whether a space near their destination would be free on arrival. The only option was to drive to the location and hope — and if the spaces were taken, to search further afield or give up entirely.
For people whose mobility already depends on being able to park close to where they need to be, that uncertainty was more than an inconvenience. It was a barrier to participation in city life. The municipality needed a solution that would make disabled parking reliable, not just available.
The Solution
Sensade installed sensors on all 96 disabled parking spaces within Fredericia city centre — the full extent of the city’s designated disabled parking provision. The entire installation was completed in just two days, with no disruption to parking availability during the process.
Real-Time Data for Drivers and Decision-Makers
The system serves two distinct purposes. For drivers, occupancy data is fed directly into a parking app, allowing residents with disabilities to see in real time where spaces are available near their destination. No more searching. No more uncertainty on arrival.
For the municipality, the same data provides a continuous, detailed picture of how disabled parking spaces across the city are actually being used. With 4,094 data points generated every day, Fredericia now has the evidence base to evaluate whether existing provision is adequate, identify where demand consistently exceeds supply, and make informed decisions about future infrastructure.
When changes are made — whether to the number of spaces, their locations, or the rules that govern them — the data makes it possible to monitor the impact directly and adjust accordingly.
The Impact
For residents with disabilities, the change is straightforward: finding a parking space in Fredericia is no longer one of the challenges of going out. The app puts that information in their hands before they set off, and the map shows alternatives if their first choice is taken.
For the city, the project marks a shift from managing disabled parking reactively to understanding it systematically. The data does not just support today’s decisions — it builds the foundation for a city that becomes more accessible over time.
The Results
- Real-time disabled parking availability in city app
- Data foundation for evaluating and improving parking infrastructure
- Reduced time spent searching for spaces
- Increased independence and accessibility for residents with disabilities
