meterEZ

I’m in Erie for two days and need to park. Some parking meter apps are as simple as enter the meter number, select Apple Pay, touchid, you’re done. Meter EZ is like filling out a police report on a stolen car. You want my name, Phone number, Credit Card, Vehicle plate and as if said license plate number is not enough to identify a vehicle you also ask for vehicle make, model and color. Then CC registration (which I would prefer not to use) failed the first time. Second time it works but minimum charge is $10 ez meter credit in that I may never use most of. After paying the meter still says “0:00 EXPIRED” so who knows what the meter police will see. I’m all in favor of cashless metering but Meter EZ is the most invasive from a privacy perspective and least efficient from the functional perspective of any that I have used. (At least I didn’t have to sign up via email, I’ll give you credit for that.) I just don’t believe you really need all this information. As a side note, why do we have to 37 different parking apps anyway? Can’t you folks form the American Association of Apps for Paying Parking or something so we can just use an app we already have?

I haven’t carried cash or change since about 2005, realizing that life is becoming increasingly digital. Parking is always a nightmare finding change or dollars (at ramps). With this app, I pull up to a spot, spend 10 seconds conveniently paying for my parking so the traffic cops don’t get me, and am on my way. App stores my multiple vehicles, my payment method, and makes it all so easy. Plus it looks great and modern like apps from huge cities. Especially like the reminder when my meter is snobby to run out when I get held up doing whatever I was doing. Definitely recommend.

This app is nice - no more returning to the street to add quarters, and you can see how long and what time your parking expires. My one quibble is the $.20 transaction fee (or .40 for direct CC pay) but it’s worth the convenience. The update is more polished and visually appealing.