Measurement and evaluation
Curb availability
Disponibilité du curb
Curb availability is the amount of legally usable curb capacity accessible to a specified user at a stated time. Physical vacancy is only one condition: a space can be empty yet unavailable because of restrictions, reservations, dimensions, accessibility requirements, or a temporary closure affecting the intended activity.
Understanding the term
Information services should distinguish observed vacancy from predicted availability. A sensor can indicate no vehicle while lacking the regulatory information needed to recommend a legal stop.
Every reported measure needs a geographic boundary, observation period, unit, and documented calculation method. State how missing data, temporary closures, and sessions crossing the observation boundary are treated. Use distributions or separate user categories where an average hides important differences. Compare consistent definitions across sites and periods, and distinguish an observed association from a demonstrated causal effect. The appropriate indicator follows the policy question rather than whichever field a monitoring system happens to provide.