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Drivers in Saskatoon can finally pay for parking with their smartphones.
The city launched its long-awaited WayToPark app, available on iOS and Android devices, at a news conference Wednesday.
“When it’s cold, nobody wants to sit outside and punch in numbers,” said Andrew Hildebrandt, the city’s director of community services. “This app completely eliminates that.”
Drivers use the free app to enter their licence plate, credit card information and select the length of stay.
It also allows for people to enter and save multiple licence plate numbers, print or view receipts and monitor current parking sessions.
The app will send notifications to remind the user when parking time is about to expire.
Hildebrandt said the new payment method will help people who leave their vehicle downtown overnight.
“The best part about that is you feel comfortable leaving your vehicle, and don’t have to rush downtown before 9 a.m. to prevent a ticket,” he said.
While additional time can be purchased, it’s only up to the maximum allowed limit as per signage.
Drivers can still pay with previously-available options including coins, credit cards and city parking cards.
The smartphone payment option was touted in 2012 during the city’s move to change out its coin-only meters to the current pay stations.
The cost for the app was included in the contract for the pay terminals.
– With files from JT Marshall.
