Last year, we were excited to announce that Columbus was rolling out a brand new way to park. After years of rummaging for quarters in our cars and hoping that meters don’t jeopardize our credit card info, and wondering if we’re really parked in a permit-only zone, the Park Columbus App has made parking way easier and more straightforward in 2019.
After using the Park Columbus App for a full year, developed and operated by ParkMobile LLC, the people of Columbus have some things we LOVE about this app, and other things, well, we would like to see change.
In general though, the app is widely accepted as a revolutionary new idea that will surely change how we pay for parking as we head into the future. According to Columbus.gov, the city hopes to make the app available to all 4,500 meters across the city in 2020.
How to Set up The Park Columbus App
- Download the app to your Apple or Android phone.
- Create your account by using your email.
- To complete the signup process, provide your license plate number and state where your vehicle is registered.
- Set up your payment method.
- Viola! You are now ready to park in Columbus!
Check out this informative video by ParkMobile, LLC that shows exactly how to use the app!
A Simple Concept: How the Park Columbus App Works
The Park Columbus App lets you pay for parking from your mobile device. This means you’ll never have to run through a rainstorm to put more nickels in your meter. The future is now!
Whether you park at a meter or in a non-metered area, look for signs that show your parking zone. (If you’re in a metered area, the meter should say your zone right on it, and if you’re in a non-metered area, there will be a sign nearby with the zone information on it) The zone number will be four digits.
Once you type in your zone number in the app, it will ask you to specify how long you plan to park in that spot. Simply confirm your information, and touch the “Start Parking” button.
One of our favorite parts of the Park Columbus App? It sends you push notifications when your parking time is about to expire, so you can put more money in the meter (so to speak) without leaving your beer, friends, or your business meeting. It makes parking in Columbus easier than ever.
No smartphone? No worries! Folks with flip phones and non-smart phones can still pay for parking by calling the number on the parking zone sign.
Since this app has only been around for a year, the Park Columbus App still has a few issues to sort through. If you’ve used the app, maybe you’ve run into some of these issues yourself. Here’s what our neighbors are saying.
What Locals Are Saying About the Park Columbus App, A Year Later.
Many of us here in Columbus are stoked about this new app. After all, it makes parking way easier in a city that’s experiencing a hefty population boom that brings with it heavier traffic and fewer parking spots.
Unfortunately though, some locals have had a hard time when it comes to the ease of use on this app. The newborn app is sometimes prone to crashing and glitches. Some people report that the locator options don’t work, and others say that the app sometimes doesn’t recognize the parking zone, making parking even more frustrating than it was before.
Many Columbus residents decry that the city needs to find a better app, or find a new system altogether. One local says, “Did anyone test the functionality of this app? It asks you to choose a payment method — I chose PayPal, which was one of the options, and entered all my info, which the app accepted and confirmed. Then the first time I tried to use it, the app said PayPal is not accepted though it lets you register that payment method. Then after I entered my credit card info and selected 2 hours on the app, it told me the amount due was zero and then asked me to enter my credit card into all over again.”
This is just one example of how app users struggle with its flawed functionality.
For now, the concept might shine brighter than the reality.
Thankfully, the Park Columbus App has also received its fair share of positive reviews. One local says, “It will remind you when your time is almost done and you can extend the time without having to go back to your car.”
Another local says, “So far so good. Had a little to drink and forgot about my parking situation, but the app reminded me and allowed me to take care of it at the table.” That’s exactly the type of convenience Columbus drivers were hoping for!
A Bright Future, With Some Glitches to Iron Out.
All in all, the Park Columbus App has been a great answer to many of our parking challenges in Columbus. Whether you’re a resident of Columbus or someone who visits often, you’ll be sure to benefit from the app’s capabilities at some point while you’re here.
Now, a bit about Lykens Companies…
With 20 years (and counting) of experience, we believe that Lykens Companies is just getting started on its mission to offer Columbus hundreds of premier apartments, rentals, and renovations. Each day, we are driving toward constantly expanding and improving our business and bettering Columbus, the city we love. For our renters, that means that they are connected to a proven business that is always striving to be the best. Our success isn’t an accident. We are constantly striving to improve our quality, both in the buildings that we renovate, reimagine, and rent out; moreover, we are striving to improve in the way that our business operates. For you, that means the best units and the best service in the best locations.
As we invest our time, money, and energy into the Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village, and other parts of Columbus’s urban core, it’s nothing short of amazing to step back and see how much we’re able to impact our city, whether that looks like renovating apartments, houses, or even factories like the Wonder Bread Lofts and the forthcoming Budd Dairy project: a full scale reimagining of an old dairy factory into a Cameron Mitchell food hall and state-of-the-art coworking space.
If you’re looking to rent in Columbus, Ohio’s urban core, you’ve come to the right place. We’re confident that it doesn’t get better than us when it comes to finding the absolute best apartments and rentals in Columbus.
See every availability!
Whether you’re looking for an apartment in the Short North, a rental in Victorian Village, a studio in Italian Village, or a loft in Wonder Bread, our Available Rentals page will feature all that (and more). We’re constantly adding our newest properties and highlighting that month’s leasing specials. Bookmark it and check often! What if you took two minutes to browse it right now? And don’t forget about our awesome Instagram for updates, new leases, and beautiful photos.
Already a resident? Refer a friend!
At Lykens Companies, we offer a simple and easy referral program to our residents. For each referral of yours who signs a lease, we’ll pay you $200! Be sure to learn everything about this awesome plan and even check out our three methods to actually get your friends to sign a lease.
