Adelaide City Council launches app that allows you to buy more parking time with your phone

Tired of parking fines in the CBD? A new app will spell the end of that, allowing motorists in the CBD to top up their time, receive alerts, and even go past the maximum time limit.

Motorists will be able to buy an extra 15 minutes of parking via an app to help avoid parking fines.

Motorists in the CBD are now able to buy a one-off, extra 15 minutes of parking to avoid a fine in an Australian first.

Today Adelaide City Council’s new Park Adelaide app went live.

Using 2800 sensors across the city, predominantly in ticketed parking bays, the app provides accurate real-time information about parking availability and time limits.

It also allows users to pay for their parking via the app, to remotely top-up their payment to the maximum time limit and send an alert when the time is about to expire.

In an Australian first the Park Adelaide app provides the option of a one-off 15 minute ‘Extend Stay’ beyond the maximum time allowed for a fee of $5.50 — based off 10 per cent of a $51 parking fine.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor, who has used the technology as “test bunny”, told The Advertiser she hoped it would add to other council initiatives aimed at encouraging more people to come into the CBD.

“The reminder alert is the thing that I liked the most,” she said.

“The feature that somebody reminds you that your time in a parking bay is set to expire is gold in my opinion.”

The smart parking technology has been provided by global company Smart Parking Limited.

Smart Parking has already rolled out a 1800-strong fleet of in-ground parking sensors in Hobart.

Ms Verschoor said the council would still maintain ticketed parking meters for people who don’t have the app.

“I’m really hoping that people embrace it,” she said.

“It’s about making life easier for people wanting to come into the city for a short amount of time.”