The City of Prince George is providing residents with a new way to pay for parking downtown.
Drivers can now download the Hotspot Parking mobile app and use it to pay for hourly street parking in city lots and parkades, users can also add extra parking time through their smartphones.
“Hotspot breaks down the cost and the time, and provides you with a countdown clock to when your session expires,” says Charlotte Peters, Manager of Bylaw Services at the City of Prince George. “It will send a reminder 15 minutes prior to the expiration so if you wish to extend your time, you can do it remotely.”
The app is $2 a month for unlimited use or users can choose to pay 20 cents per ticket transaction (renewing – or “topping up” – a pass is free).
“Most people who use the app will receive savings, even with the 20 cents transaction fee, because the unused parking time will be credited back to their HotSpot digital wallet,” Peters says.
Pay-by-plate parking machines are still available in city parkades and lots will still be able to process credit card and coin payments.
Additionally, parking is still free on weekends, statutory holidays, and after 5 pm Mondays through Fridays.
Those who make multiple daily trips or extended visits to downtown Prince George are encouraged to use off-street parking.