Parking apps take guesswork out of finding elusive spot

Anyone who has ever visited big cities during the holidays knows the frustration of finding a parking spot.

Wouldn’t it be nice to reserve a spot ahead of time or get help finding safe and affordable parking?

Now you can, thanks to a new category of smartphone apps designed for drivers. The apps range from assistance in finding a paid spot to identifying exact locations for street and lot parking.

“Locating a parking space is a huge pain especially in major cities,” said George Tarmy of ParkWhiz, a smartphone app that helps drivers identify and secure parking spots.

Most of the new applications focus on large cities such as New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco. Yet, they are expanding to other area as well such as event parking.

“Drivers usually want to figure out where they are going to park in advance,” said Tarmy, who graduated from University of Chicago in 2011 and is now is the company’s director of operations. “They can look at prices, locations and distance from their destination.”

ParkWhiz was founded in 2006 by Chicago entrepreneurs Aashish Dalal and Jon Thornton. The avid sports fans were frustrated over the lack of information on available parking, rates and locations.

The founders setup affiliations with Chicago parking vendors, and ParkWhiz was launched.

Growth was steady for the first several years, and the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas turned out to be an inflection point.

“Dallas is notorious for lack of parking and public transportation,” said Tarmy, who explained that ParWkhiz plans to expand internationally during the next year. “Our company reservation system went wild.”

Parking apps vary considerably. Tarmy suggested smartphone users consider the following features when downloading a parking spot app:

• Real-time availability. Knowing where a lot is doesn’t help much if no parking is available. A reservation system helps give you peace of mind.
• Real-time pricing. Parking prices can vary by special events, times of day and even popularity. Some applications list only the standard pricing, but many lots vary pricing throughout the day or month.
• Discounts and coupons. Parking vendors sometimes offer special pricing, and coupon codes are one way they spike interest in their facilities.
• Photo availability. A picture helps you choose a clean, safe facility. It also helps you identify the structure while driving a busy city street.
• User feedback. Have you ever showed up to a hotel that didn’t meet your expectations? The same is true for parking, and user feedback is critical for finding the right venue. For instance, your SUV may have difficulty navigating tight turns in a particular lot.

“More than 30 percent of urban congestion comes from drivers looking for parking spaces,” Tarmy said. “That’s a compelling reason to know where you are going to park before visiting a city.”