m1ke, 2 months ago

@pluralistic so much frustration over the years trying to do something simple like pay for a one time product. Restraunt ordering, parking payments, buying entry to somewhere. Install this app, now sign up, set a password, type this SMS verification, WHATS YOUR FIRST PET'S MOTHER'S MAIDEN NAME?!

Just give me a qr code or let me type some unique identifier, take my card details, take my money and move on

DecaturNature, 2 months ago

@pluralistic I recently came across street parking that was app-only. It really bugged me. I need to write to my city council about that.

soviut, 2 months ago

@pluralistic good to see the car slaves finally have what public transit has had for a decade.

djsf, 2 months ago

@pluralistic i live in Northern Virginia and Parkmobile is the app here.

They did this fun little thing where they bought up a bunch of spots in the area and raised prices by about 400%, but did no enforcement for 2 years.

Once they owned a huge portion of the spots in the area, they started cracking down HARD -- they now send several spotter cars every day to figure out many tow trucks they need to call.

In case anyone was wondering: the app sucks

ianhecht, 2 months ago

@pluralistic That would be amazing! Saskatoon, a city of around 250,000, has four different parking apps for depending on where in the city you park. It's infuriating...

rabble, 2 months ago

@ianhecht @pluralistic Wellington is the same, 4 apps. And they strongly push you to keep a balance on each one, changing extra if you just pay for what you need each time you park. Do they make their money on the float like Starbucks does?

haljor, 2 months ago

@pluralistic What if you don't have a (smart) phone? I miss coins.

taxonick, 2 months ago

@haljor @pluralistic
Yep 😕
My elderly mother lives an easy drive from a beach she used to love. They changed payment for parking there to phone only, so she can now only go there when I go with her. So sad.