Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Car Culture

Use Your Phone to Find Parking! Just, Um, Not While Driving.

Try as they might, City Council members haven't cornered the market on ridiculous, counterproductive on-street parking "solutions." Now making its way to your neighborhood: "Parking Around Me," a new service that facilitates parking alerts between drivers via text message.

roadifygrab.jpgThe latest beckoning driver distraction, from Roadify.

From what I can tell, here's how it works: A driver about to vacate a spot texts their location to Parking Around Me provider Roadify, which marks the space as available to other members. To be notified of open spots, users must either follow the Roadify Twitter feed or text Roadify with their location, wait for a reply, then respond with their preference.

Horrified by the notion of Roadify members barreling down your block while performing tedious multi-step tasks on their cellphones? Not to worry. Taking a page from the mobile manufacturer playbook, the Roadify website includes not one, but two "don't text and drive" disclaimers. Problem solved.

Or, we could just charge a fair price for scarce curbside parking, so spaces aren't so hard to come by.

Parking Around Me has debuted in Park Slope, with the promise of eventual full city coverage. Roadify says it will expand its "social transportation" offerings to include airline and transit passenger info, but for now, it's all about the ever-suffering city motorist. Coming soon: the "meter maid" stalker!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Council Bill Would Shift Taxi Driver Crash Costs onto Victims: Experts

Lower insurance for cabbies could mean higher costs for crash victims.

October 9, 2024

Wednesday Headlines: What is ‘News’ Edition

We'd much rather be writing about the Mets than counterpunching the DOT for barring us from a briefing. But that's where we are. Plus other news.

October 9, 2024

Gale Brewer Flips on E-Bike Registration Due To ‘Nasty’ Pressure

The former Manhattan borough president says she supports banning e-bikes from parks and a state campaign to require licensing.

October 8, 2024

Is Amtrak’s Big Dig Harming West Baltimore’s Black Neighborhoods?

Amtrak's single biggest infrastructure project got hit with a civil rights complaint. How should sustainable transportation advocates get involved in the conversation?

October 8, 2024

Tuesday’s Headlines: The Real Ghost Car Crackdown Edition

More ghost cars are being towed away. Plus other news.

October 8, 2024
See all posts