Easing the Park Slope Parking Crunch? There’s No App for That

All About Fifth, the blog of Park Slope's Fifth Avenue BID, posted a plug today for Roadify, one of several emerging applications that hope to help drivers find parking through the use of mobile devices.

"Roadify is still in its infancy," reads AAF, "but any idea that will help to ease parking and traffic (caused by people
driving around in circles looking for a spot) is welcomed."

Setting aside the dubious notion of encouraging drivers to keep watch on their cellphones while careening through the neighborhood, if the Fifth Ave BID is serious about parking relief, it should stop grasping at straws and get behind reality-based methods like performance parking, which are
designed to increase turnover by implementing variable meter rates. DOT is already experimenting with its PARK Smart program in the Slope -- over the strenuous objection of the BID -- with plans to expand in the coming year.

Of course, who wants to waste time weighing actual solutions when it's so easy to condemn the nearest bike lane.