Last Updated on June 8, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin
A parking app that allows drivers to pay for parking on their smartphone
The Daily News reported yesterday that Mayor DeBlasio will announce the new parking app in his upcoming state of the city address. The plan is to make the parking app available to the driving public by the end of 2016. A pilot program was initiated in 321 parking spaces in the Belmont Section of the Bronx that was deemed a success.
Here’s how the parking app works
A member of the driving public can download the app and sign up for the service with their credit card. A driver can add money from anywhere, instead of running back to the car to feed the meter when it’s about to expire.
The city has already launched a plan for all members of the NYPD, including parking enforcement agents, to get tablets, which will make the new program possible. Agents will see a list of all the license plates paid up for a particular meter then match cars on the street to those numbers.”
The parking app eliminates the need to display a muni-meter receipt on the dashboard.
A driver can still pay for parking the old fashion way with the coin of the realm and display the muni-meter receipt.
Here’ a preview of the app’s interface
Some more good news
Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said the high-tech method will come with another bonus — drivers who don’t use all the time they’ve paid for will be able to get a partial refund. The app will also give warnings when the meter is about to expire.
‘It’s pay for what you use, which I think will be popular,’ she said.”
Commentary
-I love technology that enhances the quality of life…Especially if it’s for members of the driving public.
-I’m interested in seeing how the tablets work out for the parking ticket warriors and cops. Lots of numbers. I can’t even sort out my shopping list.
-This app was designed by a private developer for free. Very nice.
What do you think about this? Do you see any potholes ahead for this parking app?
[Source: Daily News_thanks!].
This is a Great thing. My question is the following. Can I keep track of all my company vehicles on the app. ?
Dear Wilson,
Good morning.
Great question.
I don’t have a definitive answer for you but I can’t imagine why the use of this new app will be limited to passenger plates. My educated guess is that your business is in business.
Best,
Larry
Apart from having to move for street cleaning, isn’t it a fact that one cannot park indefinitely (all day) at a meter? In other words, if it is a one hour spot, one is not supposed to stay there all day feeding the meter. If one can park indefinitely, won’t this app defeat one of the purposes of the meters in the first place which is to provide parking for patrons of retail establishments? Won’t this app lead to more unsuspecting users of the app being ticketed for overstaying even if they have fed the meter via the app? Will the app have a feature that informs the user that he has exceeded the time he can park in a particular spot even if he wants to continue paying?
Jack,
Good morning.
Very thoughtful comment…
I imagine that the app will not accept additional money beyond the time limitation in effect for the muni-meter. So, feeding time will end when the hour(s) limit is reached.
I hope the app doesn’t simply take our money and then announce to a warrior that we parked longer than the parking zone permitted. Zap…parking ticket for overtime parking.
That would be too cruel, even for the Evil Empire (I hope).
Best,
Larry
Hi Larry,
All I can say is congratulations to NYC. It should make it harder for rogue warriors too. With many such systems around the world, it should not be a big issue to introduce one into NYC. Melbourne and Vancouver to name a couple have been successful. Well so they claim…
One thing that would be good to see is a system that also answers the question the confusing 3 headed monsters and obscure outfield sentient signage doesn’t.
In such a situation the other day I spent 15 minutes discussing the legality of a parking space with my friend. In the end I vacated in favor of finding a parking garage, to be sure. It would have been great if an App just confirmed or not in a message to say it is ok to park there.
And thinking about your potholes question, it occurs to me Wilson that you may not like my fleet managed by the city or your competitors able to know where you are doing sales calls or deliveries etc. by just looking on the internet. to see your fleet parking habits.
No issue for me, but I imagine it may be a real worry would for all those guys called “John” who want to remain anonymous. But I guess that is a mute point anyway these days with public CCTV and NSA drones watching us from everywhere.
One more thing on potholes Larry, don’t forget many of us are “Luddites” and don’t trust banks, credit card companies. There may still a few of us left, who say the internet is a no go zone too, and cause a few broken axles.
As an aside I wish I had hair like yours or even just some hair. The I could get on TV and become a superstar like you have with your brilliant vigilance supporting the driving public. It is not only Alternate Side Parking Rules that help keep the city clean; your blog and your great sense of seeing justice done well, also has a lot to do with it.
Cheers Gordon
Dear Gordon,
The world is a sunnier place because of you and your prose.
I am thankful that your light shines so brightly on my blog.
Be well, Gordon.
Larry
They will just ticket every car without a receipt displayed and you’ll have to dispute the ticket.. Unless when they scan the registration sticker they get a prompt about the meter being paid.
Don’t forget most of these meter maids are the bottom ring of society, uneducated & lazy. They look not only if there is a receipt but what time so they can hide out nearby and pounce the minute it expires (or 5+ min later).
They watch as you exit your car and leave without getting a receipt to put on your dash, so they can run up quickly before you come back to your car.
They are not going to take so much effort to determine if someone should get a ticket or not, they will just assume ticket!
Diknurmowf,
Good morning.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
I’m looking forward to observing the app in action.
Regards,
Larry
Larry,
You know as well as I do that if we keep taking the “Tablets” as life gets serious, by not take it seriously blows off the black clouds leaving just sunshine. Now that NYC have been prescribed to have tablets too, parking should be just be one big party. QED?
Cheers Gordon