It’s strange that many of us are still used to paying for a meter with a roll of quarters or by grabbing a ticket. It’s inconvenient, messy, and no one likes digging around for change.
Free mobile parking app Pango is paving the way towards using modern technology for parking, making it quicker and easier. All you need is a smartphone.
How does it work?
After installing Pango on your iOS, Android, or Blackberry, you create a free account. Afterwards, you input your license plate number along with your credit card.
When you are in a Pango-enabled parking location, you just park your car, start your parking session, and leave. The app will notify you with a text message before the time expires. No more anxiously checking the time or having a mini-heart attack when someone asks “Do you remember what time the meter runs out?”
Pango boasts another interesting feature: the ability to act like a remote control. If you’re parked in a gated garage, you can open the gate with the app. The gate will automatically activate the payment and will end your parking session when you leave.
Aside from all the consumer benefits, the positive effects are wide-reaching. For example, cities can generate additional revenue from Pango’s ability to delay a meter’s expiration. Imagine a couple who would normally rush back to the car to avoid going over the limit; now, they can pay the city to allow them to park longer, all without returning to their vehicle.
Local businesses can also send coupons and discounts to users who are parked near their buildings, driving more revenue for local shops.
Using Pango also smooths out the flow of traffic in parking garages – the app tells users how many parking spaces are left and where they are, eliminating the need to stop or ask parking garage employees for direction.
Pango is currently available in several cities in New York, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, but don’t be too surprised to see rapid expansion as demand increases.
Pango boasts an impressive 700,000 global users and 1.3 million transactions per month. In Israel, 89 percent of all parking payments take place through the app.
Although most users are outside the U.S., the numbers suggest that Pango’s modern, mobile approach is a welcome change for paid parking.
