A comprehensive implementation of the envisioned traffic safety and efficiency applications of the IEEE 802.11p and WAVE standards assume the premise of the use of DSRC technology both as on-board units (OBUs) and as Roadside Units (RSUs). The high cost associated with RSUs, however, has so far prevented massive deployment of RSUs. Finding alternative solutions to this longstanding problem is therefore very important. In this paper, we propose a self-organizing network approach to using parked cars in urban areas as RSUs. This self-organizing network approach enables parked cars to create coverage maps based on received signal strength and make important decisions, such as if and when a parked car should serve as an RSU. Our results show the feasibility and costeffectiveness of the proposed approach, which is able to provide excellent coverage using only a small fraction of the cars parked in a city.Andre B. Reis is currently working toward the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Pittsburgh, PA, USA, and the University of Aveiro under the CMU-Portugal Program. He received the B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in electronics and telecommunications engineering from the University of Aveiro, Portugal, in 2009, in collaboration with the Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands. His current research focuses on infrastructure support systems for vehicular networks in challenging scenarios. He has also published on multimedia Quality of Experience over ad hoc networks.