Have you ever circled around the North End neighborhood looking for a parking spot? Ever have your car towed due to street cleaning? A new App designed by a North End resident aims to help neighbors find parking and avoid getting their car towed.
Coming home from long days in the office and circling the neighborhood for a parking spot for over 30 minutes was not something that Alex Shvartz enjoyed. Even when he managed to squeeze his car into a spot, he realized that street cleaning was coming the following morning and the street would need to be clear by 8 a.m. After several times of paying hundreds of dollars to pay the ticket and get his car back after being towed, Shvartz started thinking of ways to aid this problem.
Using his personal funds and seeking outside help for development, “ParkWise North End” was born … an app to help North End residents park on the tight neighborhood streets, while also keeping tabs on street cleaning and event restrictions.
So, how does the application work? Using a map of the North End with highlighted streets, a “leaving soon” button is in place for people to notify other residents that they are leaving their spot soon. Whether you tap the “leaving soon” button 1 minute or 30 minutes prior to leaving, it will notify users at your car’s location that this spot will soon be open. From there, the app is run on a “pass it on” principal.
Once a user leaves his or her spot, the application will put a “free spot” sign at the spot so users can see the open space that is available for parking. If the free spot gets taken by another user, the “free spot” sign will immediately disappear. The “free spot” signal will slowly disappear after being open for 15 to 30 minutes to assume a non app user took the spot.
Has it been a few days and you can’t remember the street where you parked? No problem, the app also memorizes where your car is parked.
Drivers can also search and navigate on a street to street basis to see the street cleaning schedule for each individual street.
Unlike another app, Haystack, that was recently banned, you cannot sell or hold your spot. “I believe it is not fair or legal. It’s first come first served. The most you can get is a thank you and a smile from your neighbor,” says Shvartz. “Which I believe worth the hassle of pressing one button.”
Developed by North End resident Alex Shvartz, the App is free to download from Apple App Store or Google Play.
Check out the live online parking map at NorthEndParking.com.
iPhone users, due to iOS limitations you still need to press “Set Parking Location” button.
Android users, if you use Bluetooth in your car everything will be done automatically otherwise you need to press “Set parking location” as well.
We are working on resolving those problems in the next version.
Share your spot and thank others for sharing!
What a wonderful thing! A few years too late for me, but I wish you WELL! 🙂
Sounds like a great idea but what is going to prevent non residents from downloading the app and pouncing on those spaces?
ALEXANDER, WE DON’T KNOW EACH OTHER, AND I HOPE I AM WRONG, I THINK THIS IS GOING.
TO CREATE VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND WE HAVE MORE THAN OUR FAIR SHARE.
ALREADY. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF 5 PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THIS.
SPACE AT THE SAME TIME? WE HAVE PEOPLE URINATING, DEFECATING, REGURGITATING.
AND FORNICATING ON OUR STREETS & IN OUR DOORWAYS, AND NOW THEY CAN.
FIGHT & WAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD UP OVER PARKING SPACES. THIS LOOKS LIKE.
MADNESS IN THE MAKING TO ME.