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When the app that lets metropolis drivers pay for parking through cellular units went offline for just a few days of upgrades final week, Lou Bond tried twice to feed the meter as an alternative — however ended up with a pair of parking tickets.
“The meter wasn’t working, the app was suspended — bingo, it’s a ticket and that’s Thursday evening,” Bond stated. “Then Monday evening, I couldn’t get my bank card to enter on the brand new app and the meter wasn’t working — growth, a second ticket.
“I used to be like, that is loopy,” added Bond, who stated he plans to contest the $65 tickets with a protection that the meters he tried to pay at in Decrease Manhattan and on the Higher West Aspect had been out of order.
The 55-year-old electrician, who drives a Ford Transit van in from Lengthy Island for work, was among the many motorists hassled by the launch of an up to date ParkNYC mobile app, which town Division of Transportation launched Monday, touting options designed to make paying for parking simpler.
ParkNYC went offline at 11:59 p.m. final Thursday because the DOT and app developer Flowbird started the shift to a brand new system. The ParkNYC app was first implemented in 2017.
When it got here again on-line early Monday morning, a number of present customers of the app informed THE CITY they had been flustered by having to create new accounts. They skilled lengthy delays in receiving verification codes and paid a brand new 20-cent per-transaction charge.
“In the long run, I believe that’s what this was all about — a brand new charge, nevertheless discreet,” stated Fabio Uchida, a ParkNYC person from Astoria.
In keeping with DOT, greater than 40% of all parking meter funds are made by cellular units. However some customers complained that the most recent replace became a bumpy experience.
“I in all probability reset my password about 20 instances and ended up organising an entire new account,” stated Sheila Kaplan, 69, of Brooklyn. “I’ve a level in know-how, so I wasn’t confused — I used to be simply aggravated that it took a whole lot of my time.”
ParkNYC has a 1.5 ranking out of 5 amongst greater than 5,400 evaluations on the App Retailer, the place customers have posted their gripes about difficulties with accessing cash from a earlier model of the app and being locked out of their accounts.
New Meters Made
The app is among the many preliminary steps in DOT’s efforts to upgrade and retrofit 14,500 parking meters throughout town. The modifications will eradicate the necessity for receipts as proof of cost and permit anybody who’s parking to enter their license plate on the meter with out having to return to the car with a receipt.
“I just like the parking app as a result of it’s handy,” stated Anthony Natale, 62, of Washington Heights. “However the mess-up of a rollout and including new charges that weren’t there beforehand isn’t good.”
The transportation division stated the brand new 20-cent per-transaction charge is half the associated fee positioned on drivers in another cities who use cellular apps to pay for parking and that motorists can keep away from the charge by preloading their e-wallet or by paying on the meter.
Some motorists stated they’ve struggled to try this.
“It doesn’t matter what I did, the knowledge by no means crammed,” stated app person Jose Martinez, 47, of Jamaica (no relation to this reporter). “So I used to be by no means capable of refill my stability or enter a cost technique.”
Vin Barone, a DOT spokesperson, stated complaints about ParkNYC have been restricted to “a really small share” of the practically 200,000 downloads for the reason that app relaunched.
“DOT is proud to launch a revamped ParkNYC app that makes parking extra handy and fewer time-consuming,” Barone stated in a press release to THE CITY. “Our app supplier is working to deal with any complaints, which signify a really small share of the practically 200,000 downloads and greater than 83,000 transactions we’ve seen for the reason that profitable relaunch.”
Bond, the Lengthy Island electrician, stated he wants his car for work, however famous that others who’ve issues with parking might ultimately ditch their wheels as soon as motorists getting into Manhattan south of sixtieth Avenue start being tolled as a part of a plan to cut congestion and lift billions for transit enhancements.
“In a means, I can’t look ahead to congestion pricing,” he stated. “Possibly individuals will get again on the prepare or go away their automobiles.”
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