ParkMobile — *One of Birmingham’s thousands of parking meters. Photo by Matthew Niblett for Bham Now*

Who carries quarters anymore? Certainly not me. And yet, parking in downtown Birmingham is nearly impossible if you don’t. However, the Birmingham City Council Transportation Committee just voted to approve a partnership with ParkMobile. In the near future, public parking could be one click away.

Birmingham’s Parking Problem

Let’s be real. Parking in downtown Birmingham isn’t ideal, and sometimes it can be a downright nightmare. Even when the aging parking meters do work, carrying a handful of quarters wherever you go can dissuade some folks from parking downtown.

However, Councilor Darrell O’Quinn and other members of the Transportation Committee are constantly looking for ways to improve mobility in Birmingham.

Introducing ParkMobile

ParkMobile is a free-to-use app that allows users to pay for parking using their phone. In an era where you can do almost anything with an app, it seems like a no-brainer. ParkMobile is already active in a handful of cities, including Nashville, New York, Atlanta and Chicago.

Here’s How it Works

Rather than carry spare change, ParkMobile allows drivers to pay for parking on their free-to-use app. Since each parking space has a unique tag number, the driver simply enters the code on their phone and pays via credit or debit card.

With the added benefit of technology, ParkMobile will let drivers reserve spots, extend their time remotely and even point them in the direction of the perfect spot.

What’s Next?

Now that the Transportation Committee has voted to approve the partnership with ParkMobile, the vote will be proposed to the Birmingham City Council. If approved, ParkMobile could be slapping their stickers on existing parking meters faster than you can say, “why can’t I find a parking spot?”

Oh, and the best park? Since ParkMobile is paying for signage and stickers for each of Birmingham thousands of parking meters, there will be no cost to the city.