ParkMe Launches Real-Time Parking In San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ParkMe, the leading provider of real-time parking information to navigation companies and users of the ParkMe app, widget and website, announced today that motorists in San Francisco will now have access to real-time availability of garage and street parking. ParkMe's real-time parking solution was developed to help drivers save time and money by finding the closest and cheapest parking.

ParkMe has built the world's most comprehensive live parking database for both on-street and off-street parking and is expanding into more cities, such as San Francisco, which is ranked as the third most populous city for ParkMe app downloads. In fact, ParkMe has teamed up with a total of 290 garages and lots in San Francisco, and has a partnership with ABM Parking Services, which operates multiple facilities throughout the Bay Area.

ParkMe is helping to alleviate parking frustration in San Francisco, a city which collects approximately $134 million in parking tickets and citations each year – that's $255 per minute, according to San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). In addition to the roughly 100,000 parking spaces in lots and garages in the area, San Francisco has more than 29,000 metered spaces available. By downloading the app, drivers have instant access to comprehensive parking information, including rates, hours, accepted payment types and more.

"The goal of ParkMe is to eliminate the hassle of parking by sharing real-time availability and rates to enhance the experience for all drivers in San Francisco," said Sam Friedman, ParkMe CEO and co-founder. "ParkMe allows users to see parking availability in the form of heat maps that illustrate parking availability on a block-by-block basis through color-coded streets on a map. The street parking availability is refreshed every five minutes – to help you find the best spot in less time."

ParkMe continues to expand its network of exclusive partnerships with the largest parking operators across the country. Such operator relationships give ParkMe the ability to connect transient drivers with accurate, up-to-the-minute parking data streamed to mobile phones, in-car navigation systems, GPS devices and operator websites.

Additional features include the "recommendation engine" that shows drivers the best parking location around their destination based on cost and proximity. The app also has a rate calculator feature, which automatically calculates the total price of parking based on the amount of time they would like to stay.

"Currently, there are millions of drivers accessing parking data directly through ParkMe's branded mobile apps and through its partnerships with GPS and in-car navigation systems," said Alex Israel, ParkMe COO and co-founder. "Now, San Francisco drivers have access to ParkMe's vast array of partnerships and connectivity to the ever-changing parking conditions. Our goal is to arm every driver with real-time information to transform parking into a painless, seamless and pleasant experience. And if San Francisco's parking system expands, we will increase its coverage area accordingly."

The ParkMe app, which has recently jumped into the Top 10 of free navigation apps in the iTunes App Store, provides drivers with live parking information in hundreds of cities across the U.S. and the world. In addition to the iPhone and Android apps, ParkMe provides an online feature for local San Francisco businesses to allow customers to view parking availability near the business at any given time. The parking feature is free, and can be downloaded to any website. By using the app, users are able to find the perfect parking spot in more than 28,000 locations around the globe – in 1,800+ cities, 32 countries and seven continents.

For city stats and data regarding San Francisco parking, check out ParkMe.

About ParkMe
Based in Santa Monica, Calif., ParkMe is the leading provider of real-time parking information to navigation companies and consumers. Consumers can access ParkMe via GPS and in-car navigation systems, ParkMe.com, online widgets, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android apps. Founded by Sam Friedman and Alex Israel, ParkMe's mission is to make parking easier, faster and cheaper. The company collects and aggregates data about both on-street and off-street parking and has built the world's most comprehensive parking database. This includes more than 28,000 worldwide locations in more than 1,800 cities, 32 countries and seven continents. ParkMe can be found on the Web at ParkMe.com, on Twitter @TheParkMeApp, and on Facebook Facebook.com/TheParkMeApp.

ParkMe is backed by a highly respected group of investors, including Fontinalis Partners, IDG Ventures and Angeleno Group. Fontinalis Partners is a leading transportation technology strategic investment firm founded by Bill Ford, Ralph Booth, Mark Schulz, Chris Cheever, and Chris Thomas. IDG Ventures is a global network of venture capital funds with approximately $5 billion under management and a portfolio of over 220 companies built over the last 15 years. Founded in 2001, Angeleno Group is a leading growth equity firm dedicated to investing in next generation energy and natural resources companies globally.

Media Contacts: Ray Yeung / Nancy Zakhary | Brainerd Communicators | 212-986-6667 | [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE ParkMe