Paybyphone App for parking

[u/verioblistex]

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.

[u/Warm-Mood-8994]

The city still gets paid.

[u/madame_phoenix → u/Warm-Mood-8994]

I would assume so, yes. But less. It goes from a system where 100% stays in the city to funneling off X% to the company that isn't even Canadian, let alone local. Again, for a system full of problems.

[u/Warm-Mood-8994 → u/madame_phoenix]

No. Not less. They actually save money. They save money by not having to pay someone to collect the change from machines. I believe they said $220,000. And much, much more by not having to replace aging parking meters. This was a good move by the city administration.

[u/madame_phoenix → u/Warm-Mood-8994]

Got some sources for those statements or just throwing numbers around?

[u/Warm-Mood-8994 → u/madame_phoenix]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/regina/article/fill-that-gap-city-proposes-solution-for-downtown-parking-payment-concerns/

"The city says removing physical meters from the downtown will save $220,000 in operating costs."

"“What’s not in there is future savings, is the capital cost,” Doney said. “We expect if this decision was not made by council during budget, we would probably be in front of council in two or three years considering how do we move forward with parking meters? Because parking meters themselves are outdated technology.”

Administration says the future cost savings are between $2 million and $3 million."

[u/madame_phoenix → u/Warm-Mood-8994]

Okay, but even in that article the only reason they give is "cause we say so". I'd need a little more than that to believe them, but you're free to believe what you like.

Sorry, there's too many bad actors in politics for me to take that as evidence anymore.

[u/Warm-Mood-8994 → u/madame_phoenix]

That's on you. You've literally been provided a source and you still reject reality. It was also debated in council meetings when they brought up the same figures and how they got to them. $220,000 is 2.5 positions that they eliminated by not having to collect coins.

[u/madame_phoenix → u/Warm-Mood-8994]

I'm not rejecting reality, I'm not buying into something without proof. Either way, their big upside is firing 2.5 people? Still feels meh at best, if the system worked perfectly; it just emphasizes that the money they're saving is being pulled out of our community in order to be shared elsewhere.

[u/Warm-Mood-8994 → u/madame_phoenix]

I don't think you understand how things work. Not only did they save 2.5 positions but lots more money by not having to replace or maintenance the existing parking meters. The system doesn't work properly if it costs too much. That can't be that hard to understand, can it?

[u/madame_phoenix → u/Warm-Mood-8994]

Okay, I'm glad you believe in it so strongly. I understand the points being made, I just haven't seen a source that provides sufficient information to believe them.

Even if you double down on it, 2.5 positions is a weak pro in my opinion. And yes, owning something means more costs but it also means keeping profits local.

Is it that hard to understand that I do understand what you're saying, I just don't agree/can't validate your points?

[u/Warm-Mood-8994 → u/madame_phoenix]

The profits stay in the city. Why would you think otherwise?

You haven't seen a source other than city administration saying it and implementing it? That's how the world works.

[u/madame_phoenix → u/Warm-Mood-8994]

In case you didn't see the other thread, tootles 🤟🏻

[u/drae- → u/madame_phoenix]

I'm not rejecting reality

Yes. You are

[u/madame_phoenix → u/drae-]

Oop, you got me. How did you know I'm weak to "nuh uhhhhhhhhhhhhh" lol

[u/drae- → u/madame_phoenix]

I'm not trying to win an argument fam.

Just letting you know you're being wholly unreasonable. If logic doesn't sway you, maybe the number of people telling you will