Drivers can pay for parking over the phone

DENVER - One of the city's most popular shopping districts has a new way for drivers to pay for on-street parking, just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Denver Public Works is piloting a new pay-by-phone parking option in the Cherry Creek North area in an effort to find ways to make parking more convenient.

New technology allows drivers to call with their credit card information and bypass the parking kiosks.

"Pay-by-phone in Cherry Creek North will offer the convenient option of paying for parking by using your phone while you are still in the car, or extending your time by phone while shopping," Denver City Council President Jeanne Robb said.

The pay-by-phone option was unveiled Friday, and is available at all Cherry Creek North kiosk-metered parking locations (1st Avenue and 3rd Avenue from Josephine Street to Adams Street).

Signs began going up Thursday, alerting drivers to the additional payment option.

To use the service, motorists can visit paybyphone.com or calling 1-888-480-PARK (7275). Information requested will include the motorist's mobile phone number, license plate and credit card number. This creates a free account, saving the customer's information, and can be done in advance or at the time of parking.

Once signed up with the service, users simply call the toll free number from their mobile phone and key in the location number that is posted on the meter or nearby signs and the amount of parking time desired.

A 35-cent service fee will be charged for using the pay-by-phone option.

The service includes a text message reminder sent to the user's phone minutes before the meter time expires. Customers can call back and add additional parking time up to the three-hour time limit remotely from any phone.

The pilot program will end after approximately six months.

Once the pilot program is complete, the pay-by-phone option will be evaluated based on the feedback through an online survey.

A hard copy of the survey is also available by calling 311.