App links drivers looking for parking spots with people wanting to rent out carports and driveways

TWO entrepreneurs have invented an app that could hold the key to solving parking problems around congestion hot spots in Blacktown.

Parallel Parking chief financial officer Peter Carey with app creators Alex Peck and Jack Perkins. Picture: Peter Kelly.

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TWO entrepreneurs have invented an app that could hold the key to solving parking problems around congestion hot spots in Blacktown.

Jack Perkins and Alex Peck, both 24, are the founders of Parallel Parking, which links drivers searching for parking spots with people wanting to rent out their carports or driveways.

The enterprising young men are focusing the app around busy areas in Blacktown including the hospital and train station where finding parking is a daily headache for some commuters.

“Homeowners can earn $2000 to $3000 a year for doing nothing, just renting a spot out they’re not using during the day,” Mr Perkins said.

Young entrenpreneurs Alex Peck and Jack Perkins have invented an App that helps drivers looking for parking spots. Picture: Peter Kelly.

“It’s a match made in heaven.”

Drivers too would benefit, saving up to 50 per cent a week on parking, Mr Perkins said.

“They could expect to pay about $40 a week around Blacktown Hospital and train station, compared to paying $80-$90 using secure parking or street parking.

“The idea is to find convenient parking at a cheaper rate.”

Mr Perkins said the pair hatched the idea about a year ago when they were still at university.

“We kept having the same issues being able to find a carpark around uni and every time we went to dinner we couldn’t find parking spots.

“We realised there’s all these parking spots available and we thought it would be a good idea if we could give the owners $10 or so to hire it out.

“And the more we thought about it and talked about it and researched it we realised it was a viable idea.”

Using Mr Perkins background in marketing and Mr Peck’s economics skills, the pair then spent the next 13 months creating the app.

Parallel Parking was rolled out about a month ago and Mr Perkins said it already had more than 500 users and growing.

Parallel Parking is free to download and use. Users simply log on to the app and search for a parking space, or register their own spot that is not in use.

“Ninety per cent of the profits go to the spot owner,” Mr Perkins said. “We take 10 per cent to keep the app running.”

parallelparking.com.au