A WEBSITE has been launched which shows every car park and parking bay in the city centre.
According to Park-Up.com, around 42,000 cars visit the centre of Glasgow each day looking for one of the 16,000 parking spaces available.
It is estimated that results in £181,000 worth of petrol being wasted and 36,000kgs of CO2 being pumped into the air every day by traffic trying to park.
Park-Up.com founder Norman Olaniran cycled every street in the city centre noting the locations of parking spots.
He also took details of tariffs and hours of operation of every parking spot, then mapped it on Park-Up.com's database.
The free website is the first to offer a complete picture of on and off-street parking in the city centre. A mobile phone app is available to purchase.
Similar schemes cover central London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, Cambridge, Sheffield, Newcastle and Brighton.
In a few weeks, the service will aim to provide live information on car park availability and allow customers to pre-book car parks and pay by phone for on-street parking by teaming up with major car park operators and mobile parking providers.
Mr Olaniran said: "I believe giving the public better information on parking provision will allow drivers to make better decisions, which is the first step in reducing congestion and pollution while providing a better all round experience for locals and visitors alike."
According to recent research carried out by Park-Up.com, almost half of all drivers set off without knowing where they are going to park.
On at least one recent trip, one in three drivers has given up trying to find a space.
Mr Olaniran decided set up Park-Up.com in London in 2007 as a free service to help drivers save time, money and hassle.
For details visit www.park-up.com/Glasgow.
vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk