Simple parking strategies. (19th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krapivsky, P L; Redner, S
• Is Part Of: Journal of statistical mechanics. (2019:Sep.)
• Publication Date: 2019-09-19
• Subjects: 12 -- 4; Statistical mechanics -- Periodicals; Mechanics -- Statistical methods -- Periodicals; 530.1305
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-5468/ab3a2a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-5468

Abstract

Abstract: We investigate simple strategies that embody the decisions that one faces when trying to park near a popular destination. Should one park far from the target (destination), where finding a spot is easy, but then be faced with a long walk, or should one attempt to look for a desirable spot close to the target, where spots may be hard to find? We study an idealized parking process on a one-dimensional geometry where the desired target is located at x = 0, cars enter the system from the right at a rate and each car leaves at a unit rate. We analyze three parking strategies—meek, prudent, and optimistic—and determine which is optimal.