Beginning Monday, city parking in Gainesville will be easier for smartphone users.
Drivers can now use their smartphones to pay for parking at any of the city-owned metered parking spots in Gainesville, said Gainesville spokesperson Chip Skinner.
“Everybody this day and age has moved to electronic versions of payment systems and not keeping change and cash on hand,” he said.
Payment can now be done through PassportParking, a free mobile app. Along with paying to park, drivers also receive a notification when their meter is about to expire and have the option to extend the time from their phone, Skinner said.
“That is a huge benefit to keep people from being cited for being in a parking space too long,” he said.
PassportParking app users will be charged a 35-cent transaction fee each time they make a payment to a meter through the app, Skinner said. Just more than 400 parking spots in Gainesville are now accessible through the PassportParking app.
Desperately rustling through her bag in search of a quarter is an all-too-familiar feeling for Lydia Wirgau. The UF Chinese junior is looking forward to never being stuck in that predicament again, thanks to the mobile app.
“I feel like that is just a really convenient way to be able to use metered parking,” the 21-year-old said.
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