New parking app provides new alternative for payment

By: Hunter Kirsch

A new parking app will soon be available allowing Windsorites to pay for parking using their smartphones.

Passport Canada founded by Passport Inc. is a mobile app that allows users to pay for municipal and private parking. It will be officially launching in Windsor in the next couple days, allowing mobile payment for Windsor parking.

With a goal of making parking more efficient through mobile purchases, Passport Inc. is the largest provider of mobile parking payment in North America.

Users will benefit from the apps as they will be able to pay for parking on the street, gated lots, parking meters and universities. After having multiple different parking apps available in the United States, Passport Inc. has decided to bring the easy payment for parking to Canada. After already launching in several Canadian cities such as Vancouver, Windsor is going to be the next city to have access to the new parking payment method. This will give Windsorites the same benefits and access as other cities who allow the use of the app. This does not include any non city-owned parking garages and lots.

Some features Windsorites will be able to access will include reduced parking meter costs and a digital wallet. The wallet allows parkers to add funds to a wallet and begin parking at their select location. There is also another feature called the shared wallet which allows clients to share payment with partners. These features also are available to university students as Passport Canada will serve them as well.

A parking official from COMPARK who asked to remain anonymous said they will not be affected by the app.

“There is going to be disputes and problems,” said the COMPARK official. “We should just stick to the old methods”.

Max Ieraci, 18, is a University of Windsor student he will be utilizing the app.

“I would prefer parking with mobile payments,” said Ieraci. Many university and college students agree with Ieraci as parking can be a struggle when it comes to finding a location and paying for the parking spot.

“I think the new way of parking will be through mobile payment because everything now can be paid by using your smartphone,” said Ieraci.

The free app available for download on Apple and Android devices can be used when paying for a parking spot by inputting the zone code, vehicle information, and length of stay.

The new app will be launching in Windsor beginning Dec. 18.