Mayor Malik D. Evans today announced the launch of an enhanced way for drivers to use their mobile device to pay at parking meters and select City pay stations. There will be a new payment feature powered by Flowbird that will allow users to easily and conveniently pay for their on-street parking from the comfort of their car.
Using easy-to-use app and SMS payment technology, drivers can set up customizable notifications to receive alerts when their parking time is about to expire and easily extend their parking time.
“We continue to modernize our parking meter technologies and this new app takes us further into the digital age,” said Mayor Evans. “This is just the latest improvement our parking team has made to increase flexibility and convenience for those who work, play and visit our city.”
On the pay machines and parking meters you will find a blue sticker with instructions on how to pay via app or SMS.
And this is how it works:
- To pay by app, users download the Flowbird app from the Apple Store or Google Play to their mobile phone or visit www.flowbirdapp.com. After registering and logging in, users simply enter their vehicle registration number, length of stay, and encrypted payment information. There is a $0.35 processing fee.
- To pay by SMS, the user sends an SMS to the number displayed on the pay station or meter at their parking spot. The user receives an SMS response directing them to a secure link where they can enter the vehicle’s license plate number, parking duration, and encrypted payment information to start the parking session. A $0.35 processing fee also applies.
“This feature offers several benefits,” said Sarah Nowack, the city’s parking manager. “If someone has business at City Hall or the county office, or is downtown for a festival or event, they can move their vehicle to another valid parking spot and use the same paid time until the original parking time expires.”
Drivers can continue to pay their parking fees with credit cards or coins at pay machines and parking meters.
Users paying with a mobile device do not need to display the electronic payment station receipt on their vehicle’s dashboard. The parking enforcement scans the vehicle’s registration to ensure compliance with parking regulations.
