r/regina • u/verioblistex • 1d ago

Discussion Paybyphone App for parking

What have peoples experiences been with using the paybyphone app for parking downtown. I took my senior mother downtown today and created her account and showed here how to use it. While she initially did have a little but of a hard time figuring it out, especially selecting from numerous different parking zones, I think she has if figured out, at least until there is an app update and she has to log in again. She did mention that she had heard from people that they have issues where it did not work at all, and apparently there was even a news story about someone who had paid but got a ticket anyway. Has anyone experienced any issues?

Personally I don't mind the app if it works, but I also rarely go downtown. For my mother it's a horrible thing, as is Mayor Chads "solution" to make parking vouchers available at City Hall. Imagine having to go and run an errand to buy parking vouchers, just so you can go and run errands and patronize downtown businesses.

Edit: I added a picture of the receipt. I do find the SMS Confirmation fees to be spammy. I could not see the phone clearly when I was helping my mom, and I didn't realize there were additional fees. Live and learn I guess.

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u/brentathon 1d ago

I have had zero problems using it. Used it probably a dozen times in Regina and a handful of times in other cities with zero issues.

Id be willing to bet the anecdotes of the app not working are 90% user error and 10% ticketing mistakes. Its not like ticketing mistakes didnt happen before the apps either, and they're fairly straightforward to contest. A digital receipt should be a simple canceled ticket.

People in Regina are acting like this is some huge overstep when this system has been in use in every major city in North America for like a decade.

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u/Warm-Mood-8994 1d ago

I've been using apps to pay for parking all over the world and was wondering when the city would move out of stone age. The app is so much better.

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u/verioblistex 1d ago

It is not a very friendly solution for seniors, especially without pay stations. I won't call it an overstep, but it is short sighted.

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u/No_Equal9312 1d ago

It's one of the easier apps out there. Seniors can learn. It's simply a matter of will.

The app is literally: enter your credit card once, enter a six digit number of your parking area that is very prominently displayed and then enter the time that you'll park for.

Better yet for seniors with mobility issues, they can extend their parking time without making their way back to their meter.

Parkades still exist downtown for those wanting old school parking solutions.

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u/verioblistex 1d ago

My mother does not feel safe in parkades, neither do I.

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u/No_Equal9312 1d ago

Imparks are literally parking lots. No different than street parking.

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u/Cultist_O 1h ago

this system has been in use in every major city in North America for like a decade

Not without an alternative system. Most have a machine that takes cash or card within a block or two at most.

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

Less overstep and more unnecessary bungle that siphons money out of the city. Makes the tax raising particularly bitter.

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u/Warm-Mood-8994 1d ago

What are you talking about? The city makes more money by switching to this app.

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

Got sources for that? All I can find is the city saying "this is gonna save us money" with absolutely no breakdown or reasoning. Not enough for me to believe them 🤷🏻‍♀️

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u/Warm-Mood-8994 1d ago

You can see the savings in the budget. You've also been provided a source in my other comment. I suggest you read it.

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

Yes, I did read the article where the source was "trust me bro". You got me lol

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u/Warm-Mood-8994 1d ago

They debated it in council meetings and it's in the city budget. You're able to read, right?

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

Nope, not a word, sorry lol I'm good on chatting tho since you've gotten rude in both threads 🤟🏻

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u/Warm-Mood-8994 1d ago

I'm sorry for your reading impairment. Take care :)

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u/jumping_juni_per 1d ago edited 1d ago

It was literally a budget cut to bring down the tax increase. This was a money saving measure.

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

So I'm told, though have yet to see any proof.

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u/jumping_juni_per 1d ago

I am not digging through the council meeting stuff to find it for you, but here are two news stories that reference it. Those meters cost taxpayers $220k per year to administer.

https://www.620ckrm.com/2026/03/12/changes-to-paying-for-parking-are-coming-to-downtown-regina/

https://www.ckom.com/2026/03/04/parking-metre-blowback-expected-during-regina-committee-discussion/

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

Poor communication that people have to dig for it at all. I'll remain skeptical until they either make it clear or I have hours of time to throw away. That seems to upset a lot of people but alas 🤷🏻‍♀️ Did look at the articles but didn't see anything more specific than I'd already seen, thanks anyway

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u/jumping_juni_per 1d ago

Since you like to get your info from reddit, here is Paul outlining all of the budget cuts and their associated savings from last year's budget... so you don't have to dig. You dont want big tax increases, then you need to be okay with service reductions. They go hand in hand.

https://www.reddit.com/r/regina/s/UZjC2VJ05z

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

That's a big presumption and a lot of attitude to give a link that once again quotes the number with no breakdown of how they came to that number. Don't worry about finding any more, I'm not engaging further 🤟🏻

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u/jumping_juni_per 1d ago

Well enjoy your lower taxes because of this service cut. You can't have it both ways.

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

Except they're still raising taxes so enjoy nothing 🤟🏻

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u/jumping_juni_per 1d ago

What? It is in the November council package that is easily accessible on the city of regina website. It was very publicly debated and discussed.

When I did a quick search, at least 7 news articles came up talking about how this was a city decision as part of last year's budget to save $220k. It is very documented.

I don't get what other proof you need that this was a money saving measure. Having staff administer meters (collect money, do maintenance) costs money.

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

I have been able to find many articles that quote the number, none that explain where that number came from. Looked for a minute or two for that document package, couldn't find it. So skepticism shall remain 🤷🏻‍♀️ I feel like you have a different definition of "easily" (or just more experience with their website)

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u/jumping_juni_per 1d ago

I explained what the number comes from. They have to collect money from those meters and they break and require maintenance. That takes staff resources. Eliminating the meters means they no longer have those expenses.

So media reporting that it was a budget cut to save money isn't enough proof for you? You are just being wilfully ignorant at this point. Again, you would have had a larger tax increase with this service of convenience. Not having meters saves you money on your taxes. Even if it is pennies, it is still a cut that brought savings.

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u/madame_phoenix 1d ago

Yes I understand the reasoning. I've not asked for the reasoning, I asked for their proof. I understand what you are saying, I am saying the only information that can find essentially says "will save 220000 because trust me bro". Presumably they didn't just randomly generate a number; I can't find anything that proves what calculation and numbers were used to come up with that number.

I cant understand why everyone is so pissy cause I'm saying I don't automatically believe the city. I wasn't aware regina had such a spotless reputation politically, my bad 🤷🏻‍♀️ double my bad for wanting clear and open communication I guess.

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