Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $0.35 per session)

Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by asdff on Monday November 09, 2026 @05:10PM (#50432982)

It is so damn annoying. Why is anyone asking for this? I can already tap to pay with card or mobile wallet at traditional meters that take coins still. But with these 'pay by app' bullshit operations they expect you to sit there and download a 600mb shitware app on your terrible mobile data connection when you are trying to make a dinner reservation.

You have to figure city council who approved this are either idiots or getting bribes.

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Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by reaperducer on Monday November 09, 2026 @05:22PM (#50433111)

I can already tap to pay with card or mobile wallet at traditional meters that take coins still. But with these 'pay by app' bullshit operations they expect you to sit there and download a 600mb shitware app on your terrible mobile data connection when you are trying to make a dinner reservation.

Or, like I've had to deal with twice this month — the parking space is underground, so the app doesn't work until you get to the surface.

Also annoying: I had to stop using the iPhone Lockdown mode because the parking apps I have to use break when it's enabled.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by laweijfmvo on Monday November 09, 2026 @05:26PM (#50433166)

i recently encountered a town where the only option to pay was via some app that forced me to hand over my phone number and email address

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Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by nsoam on Monday November 09, 2026 @07:02PM (#50434216)

This happened to me, right after I was finished I asked them to delete my data, they said they did, years later they mailed me to tell me my data was leaked.

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Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by HaloZero on Monday November 09, 2026 @11:46PM (#50436165)

Don't even need to be in a town, I parked in SF a garage. They had a sign saying the machine to avoid the app was on the lobby floor. The machine was nowhere to be found.

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Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by lotsofpulp on Monday November 09, 2026 @06:37PM (#50433937)

The city of Portland, OR's Parking Kitty app works pretty well. It's 67MB and lets me extend parking as needed without having to go back to the car. Transaction fees are minimal too, I think $0.20.

I prefer it to meters.

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Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by Symbiote on Tuesday November 10, 2026 @02:53AM (#50437327)

[delayed]

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Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by SequoiaHope on Monday November 09, 2026 @06:48PM (#50434063)

Where I live in the Bay Area it seems like every city has been using the same ParkMobile app for a good decade, so it was set up once and use everywhere. Not sure if that was coordinated but it’s nice.

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Re:Parking-app convenience fees in 312 U.S. cities (median $... by prawn on Monday November 09, 2026 @07:45PM (#50434600)

There is an app commonly used in Italy that can be convenient. No need to find a pay machine or whether it's even working. You have your rego already entered so just confirm location and choose duration. If you return earlier, you can check in and refund the unused portion so there's no real fretting about duration either.

Having a consistent app throughout a solid amount of the country means you don't need to learn a new payment system interface in every new town, find out whether you can change language, is it tap or insert to pay, are there skimmers, etc.

[ Parent | on HN ]