Parking. It’s one of those little hassles that make city life so… exciting. But the San Francisco MTA has teamed up with Mobile Commons to make finding a parking space as easy as owning a cell phone.
It’s called SFPark. Using our mData information functionality, SFPark can quickly and easily find free spaces near you. Just text “garage” and your address or intersection to 877877, and you’ll be sent a list of nearby garages with their codes. Then text the code of the garage you want, and SFPark sends you the location, hours and rates – and how many spaces are currently available.
The service is already getting great buzz in San Francisco, including this article in the San Francisco Chronicle. ”San Francisco just made the hunt for a parking space in a city-owned garage much easier,” the article says. The Chronicle then goes on to quote Ed Reiskin, executive director of the San Francisco MTA, on the program’s merits:
“These programs will not only provide enhanced convenience and less congestion and pollution associated with one’s search for parking, but also allows us to optimize the use of our parking facilities.”
SFPark is revolutionizing the way that commuters can engage with city services. In the process, it’s decreasing traffic congestion and improving the overall quality of life in San Francisco. And it’s green! As the Chronicle points out, finding a spot without all the driving around saves not just time, but gas and fuel emissions, too.