Locals ‘appy with mobile parking payments

pic: Alain Bachellier (Flickr)

Motorists can now pay their parking fees with the help of a new mobile phone app.

The updated system offers easy to use secure payment methods, as well as the option to receive email receipts, online parking statements and the choice to receive SMS text reminders before their parking session finishes.

First time users can call a number and follow a simple one-off registration process giving details of their vehicle, location and payment card they wish to use.

The next time they use the service, they will only need to provide the three digit security code and their current location as the technology can recognise the mobile phone being used.

Once parked, motorists can extend their stay simply by contacting the service again, without going back to the car and without running the risk of receiving a ticket.

Feryal Demirci, Hackney Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “We want to make paying for parking quicker and more convenient for motorists in the borough.

“Hackney Council is committed to giving motorists better customer service, and making paying to park easier is just one of the ways are meeting this commitment.”

So far there has been a positive reaction from locals to the app.

One cafe owner, Yildiz, 49, from Old Street, said: “We use motorcycles to make deliveries quite often and I hope with this new application, they can access more places effectively.”

Motorcyclist Ivanchesko, from Dalston, said: “This way of payment is at least very practical and will help motorists.

“More people are visiting areas like Shoreditch, Hackney Central and Dalston as there are many cafes, bars and cultural centres. This means more people will benefit from this.”

The cashless payment system is provided by PayByPhone and applies borough-wide to all council street pay and display bays and car parks.

The application is accessible in all areas of Hackney; Stoke Newington, Hackney Central, Dalston, Haggerston, Shoreditch, Hackney Wick and Hackney West.

One Response

  1. jessica January 15, 2012

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