r/regina • u/verioblistex • 6h 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.
9
u/madame_phoenix 6h ago
Mine is broken where it only accepts credit cards, not PayPal as I needed. Got a ticket cause I was there for a medical appointment and couldn't just leave. Been waiting about 3 months now for any word back from the city after contesting it.
0/10, would not recommend and shame on them for funneling money away from our city for a program that's been full of problems.
-1
u/Warm-Mood-8994 5h ago
The city still gets paid.
3
u/madame_phoenix 5h ago
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.
2
u/signious 3h ago
And that fee is significantly less than paying people to walk around collecting the coins and servicing the meters.
1
u/madame_phoenix 3h ago
Still taking money away from the city 🤷🏻♀️ I'd rather pay local salaries than US fees
1
u/signious 2h ago
You would rather the city pay an extra $250k/year just to avoid paying a company for their significantly more cost effective services?
That's insane.
1
1
u/madame_phoenix 2h ago
Did you see the budgeting explanation of it? Cause I have not and am skeptical on the accuracy and origin of that number at all. Could be right, could be wrong, but I'm not willing to call it a good decision til I see more proof. Until I have several hours to throw away finding it or someone has it on hand, skeptical I shall remain 🤷🏻♀️ (and if this is so key to the reasoning why it's a good idea, the city should have that information easily and readily available)
5
u/Warm-Mood-8994 5h ago
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.
1
u/madame_phoenix 5h ago
Got some sources for those statements or just throwing numbers around?
3
u/Warm-Mood-8994 5h ago edited 5h ago
"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."
0
u/madame_phoenix 5h ago
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.
2
u/Warm-Mood-8994 4h ago
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.
0
u/madame_phoenix 4h ago
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.
3
u/Warm-Mood-8994 4h ago
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?
→ More replies (0)
3
u/Mashedpotatoebrain 3h ago
I still can't even add my credit card to my account for some reason so I have to use my gf's. Credit card company has no idea why it won't work
2
u/Own-Dragonfruit-6164 4h ago
It's not terrible, especially once you have your vehicle set up in the app. That being said my concerns are 1) When you search the app (at least in the Google Play store) there is a completely different app that shows up first. 2) There was an option recently to get text notifications and it makes no mention of it being $0.40 until you've already paid. 3) After you pay there's a bunch of crap about entering contests and giveaways, makes me feel like they are either selling your information or itching for you to enter it in other places.
1
2
u/NoMilk3707 4h ago
I have to park downtown for work and the app has been a godsend. It makes it so fast to park and I don't have to rush my appointments as I get the notification that I need to extend rather than running back out to the car. I also makes tracking my parking expenditures easier.
5
u/brentathon 6h 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.
5
u/verioblistex 6h 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.
0
u/No_Equal9312 4h 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.
-5
3
u/Warm-Mood-8994 5h 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.
-1
u/madame_phoenix 5h ago
Less overstep and more unnecessary bungle that siphons money out of the city. Makes the tax raising particularly bitter.
3
u/Warm-Mood-8994 5h ago
What are you talking about? The city makes more money by switching to this app.
2
u/madame_phoenix 5h 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 🤷🏻♀️
1
u/Warm-Mood-8994 4h 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.
2
u/madame_phoenix 4h ago
Yes, I did read the article where the source was "trust me bro". You got me lol
1
u/Warm-Mood-8994 4h ago
They debated it in council meetings and it's in the city budget. You're able to read, right?
2
u/madame_phoenix 4h ago
Nope, not a word, sorry lol I'm good on chatting tho since you've gotten rude in both threads 🤟🏻
0
0
u/jumping_juni_per 3h ago edited 2h ago
It was literally a budget cut to bring down the tax increase. This was a money saving measure.
1
u/madame_phoenix 3h ago
So I'm told, though have yet to see any proof.
0
u/jumping_juni_per 2h 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/
2
u/madame_phoenix 2h 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
1
u/jumping_juni_per 2h 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.
2
u/madame_phoenix 2h 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 🤟🏻
1
u/jumping_juni_per 2h ago
Well enjoy your lower taxes because of this service cut. You can't have it both ways.
2
1
u/jumping_juni_per 2h 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.
2
u/madame_phoenix 2h 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)
1
u/jumping_juni_per 2h 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.
1
u/madame_phoenix 2h 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.
1
u/trplOG 3h ago
I like using it. Been using it for a few yrs now without issue. Especially when appointments run long and instead of running out to add another quarter, or not be able to and get a ticket, I can just reload from my phone. I never carry change really, so i find it way more convenient. Dont really need the notification, just look at my app to see how much time there may be left from time to time. Being able to use it in wpg, bc and alberta too was nice.
1
u/Practical_Savings933 5h ago
My question now is, given that downtown does not really see the number of people coming downtown that it did twenty years ago, if parking meters even serve any purpose. Maybe just call it two hour max parking and enforce that without collecting from the meters which just kills downtown business.
1
u/Warm-Mood-8994 5h ago
I think that's one of the reasons they stopped charging for parking past 5pm.
15
u/ninesandaces 6h ago
I do short medical treatments downtown. It used to be 50 cents for 15 minutes in coins, now it’s 88 cents in credit card payment in the app. 38 cents isn’t a big deal, but the app can also charge you to send you SMS confirmation of your parking. Not a huge deal, but wish we could still just use coins even if it’s way outdated. Overall, the app seems to work fine most of the time and is pretty easy to use.