Akron is launching a new way for motorists to pay for parking at meters and lots across the city. Using their cell phones, drivers can register their cars and credit card information. After that, when they park, they can call the Ring-Go service and enter their location and length of stay.
The transaction should take only 30 seconds. But the service includes an extra 25-cent charge per use.
Akron is the first city in Ohio to use the system. Mayor Don Plusquellic says the city did not start the program to make a profit.
Mayor Don Plusquellic: “We are not getting any more money. We are not charging any more for the service. It really is - as we see it - a convenience for people. They can pay by coin. Many of our locations will have the pay by credit card or they can pay by cell phone so it's really giving them options but there's no more money in this for us. It's not a revenue enhancement”
Akron has created two other parking programs this year to simplify parking and boost downtown tourism. In March, the city started offering 65 minutes of free parking in city-owned parking decks. Akron has also added pay-by-credit card options to meters.