Good Carma: Helpful Apps Lessen Parking Pain

APRIL 27, 2010

Mobile technology has been helping to ease the stress of parking on city streets.

Spending valuable time cruising city strees while squinting at novel-length parking signs is no one’s idea of fun. One of the first and best-known street parking applications, Primo Spot has mapped out city streets (New York and Boston so far) in order to help untangle the parking jungle. Its founders—after racking up hundreds of Manhattan tickets—noticed a huge need for parking info. Using Google maps and an extensive database of parking signs, they created the Primo Spot app, which provides a detailed map of your desired area with info on alternate-side parking regulations, holiday changes and more.

SpotSwitch gets even closer to the curb with the power of crowdsourcing. Members download the application, then use it to send a geo-tagged alert when they’re ready to leave a parking spot, letting other members know it will soon be available. SpotSwitch also helps you remember where you’ve parked and notifies you when you need to move your car. Thinking locally (but with plans to expand), Roadify has been using text messages and Twitter to help the Park Slope, Brooklyn community enjoy a calmer parking experience. Drivers give a heads-up when parking spaces become available and get “CARma points” in the form of a stress-free parking space along with discounts and freebies like bagels, metrocards and coupons from local businesses to sweeten the deal.

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Good Carma: Helpful Apps Lessen Parking Pain

APRIL 27, 2010

ALSO IN NEW YORK CITY INSIDER

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