Tag Archives for: ParkingToday

Hazleton, PA, Transitions Mobile Parking Payments to ParkMobile’s Contactless System

June 15, 2022

Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Transitions Mobile Parking Payments to ParkMobile’s Contactless System

Beginning this month, all mobile parking payments in the City of Hazleton will be handled through the ParkMobile app.

 

 

Through ParkMobile, users will be able to pay for parking at 400 on-street spaces in town.

 

HAZLETON, Pa., June 15, 2022  — ParkMobile, the #1 parking app in the U.S., is expanding its services to the City of Hazleton and replacing the previous mobile parking payment provider. Through ParkMobile, users will be able to pay for parking at 400 on-street spaces in town.

Through ParkMobile, users will be able to pay for parking at 400 on-street spaces in town.

“ParkMobile’s easy-to-use mobile app will make parking a smoother experience for our locals and visitors this summer,” said Ralph Sharp, Director of Hazleton Public Transit and the Parking Department for the City of Hazleton. “Our partnership begins at an ideal time as we prepare for an influx of tourists to the Poconos Mountains.”

While ParkMobile will be a new service for Hazleton, many local drivers will already be familiar with the app. Nearby Philadelphia is one of the app’s most popular markets in the country. Pennsylvania has 2.1 million users, and ParkMobile has a presence throughout the state in Bethlehem, Easton, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Penn State University, and Temple University.

ParkMobile has over 35 million users across North America, is available for both iPhone and Android devices, and can also be accessed on a mobile web browser. To pay for zone parking using the mobile or web app, a user enters the zone number posted on signs around the parking spot, selects the amount of time needed, and touches the “Start Parking” button to begin the session. The user can also extend the time of the parking session on their mobile device.

“Pennsylvania is one of ParkMobile’s top performing states, so we’re thrilled that Hazleton has chosen to partner with us for their mobile parking payments,” added Jeff Perkins, CEO of ParkMobile. “We look forward to another successful partnership helping Pennsylvania drivers.”

About ParkMobile: ParkMobile, LLC is the leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in North America, using a contactless approach to help millions of people easily find, reserve, and pay for parking on their mobile devices. The company’s technology is used in thousands of locations across the country, including 8 of the top 10 cities as well as college campuses, airports, and stadiums. People can use ParkMobile solutions to quickly pay for on-street and off-street parking without having to use a meter or kiosk. Additionally, ParkMobile offers parking reservations at stadium venues for concerts and sporting events. Reservations are also available in metro area garages, allowing people to drive into the city without having to worry about finding parking. ParkMobile has been named to the Inc. 5000, Deloitte Fast 500, Smart Cities Connect “Smart 50,” and the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Top Workplaces. Additionally, the company won the 2022 Stevie Awards for Best Mobile On-Demand Application, the 2020 Stevie Awards for Achievement in Product Innovation, and the 2019 Stevie Awards for Most Innovative Tech Company and Best Travel App. For more information, visit ParkMobile.io or @ParkMobile on Twitter.

ParkMobile Contact: Mark Lister, SVP of Marketing, mark.lister@parkmobile.io

City of Hazleton Contact: Ralph V. Sharp, Director, ralph@ridehpt.com

“The discrepancy between the promise of whiz-bang technology and the reality” – ParkNews.biz June 22nd – 28th, 2021

June 28, 2021

 

 

“The discrepancy between the promise of whiz-bang technology and the reality” – ParkNews.biz June 22nd – 28th, 2021

 

 

Has Smart City concept or at least its verbiage, become passe?   This Monday, June 28th, 2021, Columbus, OH and its Smart Columbus Program is ubiquitous in the news thus our headline is, June 28, 2021 – America’s ‘Smart City’ Didn’t Get Much Smarter – the article from Wired Magazine.

“The “smart city” was a hard-to-pin-down marketing term associated with urban optimism. Today, as citizens think more carefully about tech-enabled surveillance, the concept of a sensor in every home doesn’t look as shiny as it once did. Still, Columbus officials insist the Smart City project was not a failure. In fact, the final report labeled the project a success. Now Columbus wants to rethink the slippery term.

It’s not supposed to be a competition for who has more sensors, or anything like that, and I think we got a little distracted at a certain point,” says Jordan Davis, director of Smart Columbus, the organization charged with continuing the challenge’s work. Some of the challenge’s projects will continue. Davis says the focus will be, “How do we use technology to improve quality of life, to solve community issues of equity, to mitigate climate change, to achieve prospects in the region?””

It is never all bad or all good. The middle way is waiting to be implemented by all of us. As if there is elation, it is wonderful but it never lasts. If there is sadness, that never lasts forever unless we allow it. So perhaps there are some awesome benefits of the smart city project in Columbus and yes, there are expensive downsides. There was 50 million dollars invested in the project. Did it all go to waste? What are the benefits and lessons learned?

According to another article, June 28, 2021 – All the tech that went into turning Columbus, Ohio into a ‘Smart City’, from TC, at least one company and that is ParkMobile, created some value with its Park Columbus: “Smart Columbus’s event parking management program built enhancements within ParkMobile’s existing offering, according to a spokesperson for the city. The $1.3 million project had over 30,000 downloads from October 2020 to March 2021. The city will continue to fund the app which will also display on-street parking via predictive analytic technology. “ 30,000 downloads during 6 months of pandemic, is a positive sign that touchless and easy, non-eventful parking experience works.

Technology unequivocally especially when intuitive, makes our lives easier. Be it in parking or beyond. However, when it is just for the sake of technology without the reflection on what is truly needed by the people, it might be superfluous and even wasteful. As Jordan Davis said in the wired article: Going forward, the city will rely more on “empathy and engagement,” rather than “‘This is a really cool tech that’s coming out of the private sector.’”

In other words, less ego, more service. Less talking and more listening. For most of us it is a lesson we only grasp after a high price paid.

Have a wonderful week and blessed Independence Day Weekend. God bless the USA.

Sincerely,

Astrid Ambroziak

Editor, ParkNews.biz

Creative Director

Parking Today

310 390 5277 ext 9

astrid@parkingtoday.com

www.parkingtoday.com

A Choice – ParkNews.biz March 2nd – 8th, 2021

March 08, 2021

 

 

A Choice – ParkNews.biz March 2nd – 8th, 2021

 

 

 

 

“Be independent of the good opinion of other people.” –  Abraham Maslow

 

 

In the Feb 2021 Parking Today, Keith Jones of Ace writes one of the best articles I have ever read, “I Contain Multitudes.”  Read it here: pt or at ParkNews.biz. Keith evokes Dylan and his song of the same title.  When I read Keith article, immediately I heard Walt Whitman and his “ Do I contradict myself?  Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.”

 

We are moving forward with PIE 2021.  Come if you wish.  Grow if you wish.  Choose your MO.

 

“Planning for events like PIE takes months. We can’t just wake up July first and say, “OK, let start thinking about what we are doing at PIE.” We have been working on this since last year. But we are not alone. Event after event are in the planning stages, and scheduled for the near future.

San Diego, for instance, has six events scheduled for its convention center between June 1 and July 30. These exhibitions will attract over 35,000 people. The huge construction event, World of Concrete, will be held in Las Vegas in June. More than 60,000 people will be in attendance.

Fifteen events are happening in Orlando alone between now and the end of July. You can imagine the number of families that will be attending those shows, as well as visiting with Mickey and Donald.

According to Texas Highways magazine more than 200 events attended by as few as a couple of hundred people to more than 5,000 will be held between now and the end of July in Texas.  Over 250 events of all sizes are scheduled for Georgia during the same time period. I could go on and on and if you are interested, Google a state name and ‘exhibitions’ and see what’s happening.

Thousands of events have been rescheduled over the past year. Many have been cancelled, others have gone virtual. The feedback we have received from those attending virtual events of all types have been less than stellar. Let’s face it, nothing can replace ‘face to face.’” – From JVH:

Otherwise, ParkMobile and PayByPhone rocks PT Plus.

 

PayByPhone Appoints Cindy Chau to Vice President of Operations, Canada & USA –

“PayByPhone is in the midst of extraordinary growth throughout the US and Canada, and Cindy Chau has shown tremendous leadership to our team,” said Roamy Valera, PayByPhone’s CEO, US and Canada. “Cindy is a gifted client success leader who is well-known and highly respected throughout the parking industry. She’ll play an important role in our continued success throughout the United States and Canada.”

 

Edmonton EXPO Centre Selects ParkMobile for Contactless Parking Payments –

 

“We are proud to partner with the Edmonton EXPO Centre to provide a safe and easy way to pay for parking at the venue,” Jon Ziglar, CEO of ParkMobile, said. “Plus, you can now make a parking reservation in advance and have a guaranteed spot waiting for you.

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Thank you,

Astrid Ambroziak

Editor, ParkNews.biz

Creative Director

Parking Today

310 390 5277 ext 9

astrid@parkingtoday.com

www.parkingtoday.com

PayByPhone Brings a Better Parking Experience to Bowling Green State University

August 19, 2020

 

 

 

PayByPhone Brings a Better Parking Experience to

Bowling Green State University

 

 

 

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA  – Bowling Green State University is introducing an app-based parking payment option for an estimated 1,850 short term parking spaces on the University’s main campus. BGSU parking customers can now utilize the PayByPhone mobile app to pay for one-time parking use.

 

“We are excited to introduce the PayByPhone App,” said Tom Kelly, manager of Parking and Shuttle Services at BGSU. “This will simplify short-term parking for all BGSU parking customers, offering a convenient and contactless option that will support our health and safety priorities.”

 

Once the PayByPhone app is launched, the motorist enters their parking location, their length of stay and pays. When a parking session expires, the app sends the user a text message prompting them to extend their parking session remotely, saving the need of having to return to their car to feed the meter.

 

While faculty, staff and student parking passes provide a lower cost, the PayByPhone parking app will allow for flexibility and convenience in single-use parking.

 

“Campuses in North America are increasingly adopting the PayByPhone app because it simplifies and modernizes parking for students, faculty and visitors,” said Roamy Valera, PayByPhone CEO.

 

PayByPhone is one of the fastest growing mobile payment companies in the world, processing over 125 million transactions annually, totaling more than $550 million USD in payments.

 

 

For more information, visit paybyphone.com.

 

About PayByPhone

PayByPhone is one of the fastest growing mobile payment companies in the world, processing over 125 million transactions annually, totaling more than $550 million USD in payments. Through the company’s mobile web, smartphone and smartwatch applications, PayByPhone helps millions of consumers easily and securely pay for parking without the hassles of waiting in line, having to carry change or risking costly fines. A subsidiary of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, PayByPhone is leading the way in the creation of the mobile future.

 

Media Contact

Jessica Britton

Director of Marketing, PayByPhone

jbritton@paybyphone.com

 

 

 

 

We’re here for you – Together – A message from Wen, Smarking

March 18, 2020

 

We’re here for you

 

Our hearts go out to those who’s been impacted by the virus, directly or indirectly.
With the concurrently emerging uncertainty of the financial market and economy, businesses in the parking industry have taken on tremendous pressure, including many of our customers and partners. This is a difficult time and I wanted to reach out and update you on how we’re approaching the situation at Smarking.

 

 

In addition to our team entering a full work-from-home mode to help create social distancing, everyone on the Smarking team is adjusting their priorities on-hand to drop everything whenever our customers and partners reach out for support. We’ll also continue monitoring the dynamics at 2,000+ parking sites across North America in real time, and prepare to support our customers and partners with timely high-level observations.

At this point, the newest data is still too limited to indicate a trend, while it’s possible that the revenue goals set at certain parking locations last fiscal year, without the anticipation of the pandemic, may not reflect the operations in reality for coming months anymore. Some forward-thinking parking professionals have already initiatedproactive communication with upper management/asset ownership/investors and started on replanning the revenue goals for their locations.

Leading firms from other industries such as airlines, hotels, and restaurants have also started planning and executing on programs to help incentivize pre-salesthrough flexible pre-booking programs, gift cards, service credits, and other promotional pre-sale products and services.

Know that you are not alone in this, we are here with you, and we are committed to being your partner and persevering together in all the days and years ahead. We will be working harder than ever to respond, support, and help. You can reach us at any time at support@smarking.com, through your designated Smarking contact, or to myself directly at wen@smarking.com if there’s anything we can do to help.

As we go forward, we’ll be sure to keep you updated, and know that we always value your questions, ideas and feedback. We are confident that with our collective efforts, the coronavirus can be defeated, and will be defeated.

– Wen

PIE 2020 – Parking Experience: Call for Speakers

May 17, 2019

 

 

 

Call for Speakers = PIE 2020

 by JVH

 

 

The theme for PIE 2020 is The Parking Experience. How do we as an industry make the parking experience the best for our customers, the parkers? We are looking for out of the box ideas to reduce the stress and turn the parking experience into one that people will actually look forward to and enjoy.

 

With that in mind, we are reaching out to all Parking Today readers, whether consultant, supplier, member of an organization that runs or manages parking for an office building, city, university, airport, shopping center or venue. If you are interested, apply for a speaking slot.

These presentations can be short, 10 minutes, or a panel lasting an hour. We are starting early and are flexible. If you have had great customer service successes, let us know. We may pick you for an entire session, or blend you in with others.

Just write up a short summary of what you would like to present, along with your contact information and send it in. If you make the cut, we will let you know. Astrid will coordinate and our team will review. Send your entry to her at astrid@parkingtoday.com.

Deadline is June 15. You don’t have to have the complete presentation done, just a quick outline.

See you in San Diego

JVH

PS  If you have other ideas for a presentation, we are open to that too.

www.parkingtoday.com

Parking Today Media Announces Winners of First Annual Parking Today Awards

March 20, 2019

 

 

 

Parking Today Media Announces Winners of

First Annual Parking Today Awards

 

 

 

 

Los Angeles, CA (March 20, 2019) – Parking Today Media today announced the winners of the first annual Parking Today Awards. The Parking Today Awards, which recognize excellence in a several parking-related categories, were presented at the Parking Industry Expo (PIE), an annual gathering of parking industry leaders. Award-recipients include:

 

 

 

Lifetime Achievement Award—Chicago parking legend Larry Donoghue is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The former Chairman and CEO of Ralph Burk Associates was instrumental in the development of many legendary parking and non-parking projects, beginning with the siting and design of O’Hare International Airport in the mid-1940s. He also participated in the development of two of downtown Chicago’s earliest underground parking garages, the Grant Park garages beneath Michigan Avenue. In the mid-1970s, he began focusing on revenue fraud in parking facilities and soon earned a reputation as one of the foremost experts on the topic. He conducted more research into detecting and stopping fraud than any parking consultant had—or has since—and he identified more than 300 ways fraud can occur in garages and 50 ways fraud can be committed at parking meters. Donoghue finally retired in 2014, but he remains active, volunteering approximately 20 hours a week to work with homebound seniors and nursing home residents.

 

Customer Service Excellence Award—Dallas-based ParkHub was recognized for outstanding customer service. ParkHub’s subscription-based solutions help parking professionals improve the customer experience and drive revenue with streamlined operations and real-time insight. ParkHub manages over 1 million parking spots and has parked and digitally transcribed over 18 million vehicles to date.

 

Parking Innovation / Innovative Parking Solution Award—The City of Seal Beach, California was recognized for its use of cutting-edge technology, including EV charging stations and License Plate Recognition-based permitting and enforcement tools, in municipal parking facilities.

 

Best New Parking Structure—Berkeley, California’s Center Street Parking Garage, designed by International Parking Design of Encino, California. The 250,000 SF, eight-level garage provides 720 spaces for cars and 350 spaces for bikes and contains a number of sustainable features, including rooftop solar panels, electric-vehicle charging stations, rainwater collection cistern, and stormwater treatment vegetation. The garage also features an art exhibit space, café, bike valet, public restroom facilities, state-of-the-art security system, and a parking count system with red and green indicator lights designating open spaces. Additionally, the garage houses a bike share network and includes a BART Bike Station with bicycle-equipment repair shop and 55 secured bicycle spaces.

 

 

Sustainability Excellence Award— Barnacle, providers of the cutting-edge parking enforcement tool, were recognized for their commitment to sustainability. The cutting-edge device not only enables enforcement officers to immobilize vehicles immediately without extra trips but also allows the offending driver to pay their fines on line and release their vehicle themselves, thus greatly reducing miles traveled and gallons of fuel used.

 

About Parking Today Media
Parking Today Media publishes Parking Today, the most comprehensive and informative publication serving the parking industry. The company also sponsors the Parking Industry Expo (PIE), the leading annual conference serving the parking industry. More information can be found at parkingtoday.com.

 

 

CivicSmart Unveils Next Generation “Smart Parking” Offerings at Gulf Traffic 2018 in Dubai

December 06, 2018

 

 

 

CivicSmart Unveils Next Generation “Smart Parking” Offerings at Gulf Traffic 2018 in Dubai

 

 

MILWAUKEE, Wis.(December 5, 2018) –CivicSmart, Inc., an innovator of “Next Generation” Smart Parking technologies is pleased to announce a series of “First of its Kind” offerings at Gulf Traffic 2018, held at the Dubai World Trade Center from December 4-6 (Booth Z1.C70).

 

 

 

CivicSmart’s latest developments demonstrate the power of Smart Parking unconstrained by legacy technology limitations.  These solutions work together to allow municipalities around the world to deliver unprecedented levels of convenience for motorists while generating new revenues, greater efficiencies and comprehensive parking data for municipal parking programs.

 

Among the groundbreaking, interoperable technologies that CivicSmart is showcasing this week are their:

 

Automated On-street Reservation System, which the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced in October at the 38th Gitex Technology Week also held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.  This system allows motorists to use the “Smart Parking Reservation” feature in the RTA’s mobile app to locate and reserve on-street spaces at a premium rate and is powered by CivicSmart technology including its highly-accurate vehicle detection sensors and curbside reservation indicators.

 

Wireless Electronic Permits thathave a unique ID which is read by CivicSmart’s sensors to identify when a specific vehicle parks in an on-street parking space. This allows for seamless permit management by detecting when authorized vehicles enter a regulated space and notifying enforcement officers in real-time when an unpermitted vehicle does so. Electronic permits eliminate most permit fraud and counterfeiting.

 

Automated On-street Parking Payments (“Park and Walk”).  By linking CivicSmart’s wireless permit to a payment account, when a vehicle with a permit enters a paid parking space, the sensor automatically detects the permit and initiates billing of the motorist’s account without the motorist having to pay at a meter or through a mobile app.  The motorist can simply “Park and Walk” away.  Billing continues until the vehicle departs the space.

 

Curb Mount Sensor  For municipalities in warm-weather climates that do not want to core drill in the pavement to install a subterranean sensor, CivicSmart’s latest sensor configuration can be attached to the vertical face of the curb. This low profile sensor has a detachable faceplate allowing it to be relocated at minimal cost, and it delivers exceptional accuracy due to the ideal angle for detecting the side of a vehicle.  As “curb management” becomes more important for cities, this is a powerful solution for the management of loading zones, bus zones, fire hydrants, handicapped spaces, and no stopping areas.

 

Directed Enforcement.  CivicSmart’s map-based enforcement software integrates sensor data with meter payments, mobile payments, automated “Park and Walk” payments, and wireless permits to direct officers in real-time to spaces where vehicles are parked in violation.  Handheld and mobile Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems allow officers to scan plates within a second or two to check enforcement databases and pre-populate citation data for maximum speed and accuracy.

 

 

About CivicSmart

CivicSmart, Inc., is a global leader in innovative city-wide Smart Parking solutions and services, including vehicle detection sensors, smart parking meters, handheld enforcement solutions, and comprehensive parking management systems.  CivicSmart solutions have been deployed globally and CivicSmart serves over 1,500 clients.  CivicSmart is recognized as one of Government Technologymagazine’s GovTech100. More details about CivicSmart’s offerings can be found at http://www.civicsmart.com/.

 

About CivicSmart ME

CivicSmart ME FZC, is headquartered in the UAE and India and provides Smart Parking solutions to innovative municipalities around the region.  More information about CivicSmart ME FZC can be obtained by contacting Mufaddal Nafar at mnafar@civicsmartme.com.

Cleverciti Systems and FoxNet Announce Distribution Partnership to Canadian Market

October 31, 2018

 

 

 

Cleverciti Systems and FoxNet Announce Distribution Partnership to Canadian Market

 

 

 

Lake Forest, Ill. and Munich, Germany, Oct. 30, 2018 — Cleverciti Systems Corp., a leader in comprehensive, high-tech solutions for outdoor and on-street parking detection, monitoring and guidance, and FoxNet, a Waterloo-based IT service provider, announced today a partnership to bring Cleverciti’s innovative parking solutions to FoxNet‘s distribution network in the Canadian market.

 

 

 

FoxNet will offer Cleverciti’s sensors and CIRC360 solution to its customers looking to harness the power of technology to streamline and enhance FoxNet’s parking system solution offerings for customers. Cleverciti’s disruptive technology reliably and systemically gathers information on available and occupied parking spaces in real time. Cleverciti’s newest solution, CIRC360, delivers not only parking guidance, but also an opportunity to engage with customers and residents by facilitating communications and messaging on the high-visibility LED signage.

 

“We are thrilled to be able to offer the Canadian market an award-winning and reliable outdoor parking solution to make cities smarter and outdoor parking more efficient,” said Bill Fox, President of FoxNet. “We believe there is a real need and appetite to reduce traffic, lower emissions and make intelligent decisions based off of real-time data here in Canada. We are looking forward to working with Cleverciti to bring their award-winning IoT and smart city device here to Canada.”

 

FoxNet helps clients move past the comfort of their existing IT environment and embrace new beginnings – they approach IoT design with a simple twist: Start at the end, ask “What is trying to be accomplished?” Cleverciti’s parking technology will allow FoxNet to expand its range of IoT solutions to meet its mission by helping organizations save money, provide better services, and innovate.

 

“FoxNet’s expertise and excellent reputation in the parking industry and their long-standing experience with cities is the reason we are excited about this partnership,” said Thomas Hohenacker, President and CEO, Cleverciti. “By providing sustainable and inclusive options to the Canadian market, together FoxNet and Cleverciti can enable cities and organizations to become smarter in how they address parking challenges.”

 

About Cleverciti Systems

Cleverciti Systems is the leader in comprehensive, high-tech solutions for outdoor and on-street parking detection, monitoring and guidance. Cleverciti provides organizations with a robust and highly reliable solution that enhances convenience, builds loyalty and boosts engagement, allowing our customers to maximize ROI and streamline the parking experience. Its end-to-end solutions are designed to strengthen parking detection, improve guidance, and enhance communication. ´Cleverciti seeks to help organizations reduce traffic and emissions, and increase revenue while allowing drivers to enjoy a smooth, stress-free parking experience. The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, with offices in Chicago. To learn more, visit www.cleverciti.com.

 

About FoxNet

FoxNet is an IoT and IT solutions provider based in Waterloo, Ontario. The company’s IT experts are a creative and experienced team focused on solving real problems. With a partner network serving over 350 companies spanning 10 industries and recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Service Providers, FoxNet provides full end-to-end IT solutions as well as IoT implementations. FoxNet knows that the primary components of an IT strategy need to be flexible, fresh and dynamic. Building and designing an entirely new IoT environment at the same time is a challenge, especially at scale. FoxNet begins with proof-of-concept pilots so our clients can make a clearer and simpler choice on how to get where they’re going.

 

Win with ParkNews.biz – Today’s Winner is Sean Renn, Parkeon

June 13, 2016

Win with ParkNews.biz – Today’s Winner is Sean Renn, Parkeon.

 

Win with ParkNews.biz – Winners announced twice a week!

Read ParkNews.biz daily to find out who and when.
Congratulations to Sean Renn, Parkeon. You are a ParkNews.biz favorite reader winner.
Contact Astrid by Next Monday and receive a $50 gift card. If you know Sean Renn – Parkeon, drop him a note and tell him to check out Parknews.biz.

Astrid Ambroziak
astrid@parkingtoday.com

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