[COMMUNICATED CONTENT]
Community-centered approach draws support from political leaders and community groups, needs driver and homeowner involvement
A new app called SpotPog is working with communities in Brooklyn and Queens to help solve an age-old problem of urban living: finding a parking spot. The app, which launched this June, allows users to swap public street spots for free, enabling them to save time by not hunting for spots. Homeowners can also earn extra money by renting out their driveways.
SpotPog is working with Orthodox communities in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights, Borough Park, and Williamsburg to join together to make parking less difficult. SpotPog wants to provide its innovative solution to communities in need of new parking solutions. Once the app enlists enough engaged and active users SpotPog has the potential to make parking more of a convenience and less of a nuisance.
“Many Orthodox families rely on private cars for their everyday activities. SpotPog can be particularly valuable to these growing families,” says Jacques Blinbaum, Founder and CEO of SpotPog. “SpotPog is committed to being a valuable resource for the Orthodox community.”
Here’s how it works: after downloading the app SpotPog users can swap public street spots for free by using credits called “Pogs”. These Pogs cannot be bought nor sold —they can only be earned. Every time a user gives away a free spot to another user they earn a Pog that is good for a free space of their own later on.
SpotPog users who own driveways can post their driveways for rent on the app. Driveway owners set their own prices and availability, creating a new parking option for the millions of city drivers. Users can opt to donate their proceeds from driveway rentals to local non-profits and even complete transactions without being home.
Before launching SpotPog spent several months engaging elected officials and communities. Door-to-door visits by SpotPog representatives throughout Brooklyn and Queens resulted in extensive feedback from more than 5,000 residents. By the time SpotPog went live it had already won endorsements from various local elected officials and community organizations.
“Brooklyn has a serious parking problem,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “We need an innovative approach to help residents find spots in their own neighborhoods, or when running errands and attending local events. SpotPog has the potential to meet this mission, employing our smartphones in a smart way to help reduce traffic congestion, decrease street-level pollution, and allow for more drivers to visit our local business districts.”
SpotPog understands the very real frustrations of parking in Brooklyn. The SpotPog mission is to empower local communities to solve their problems by providing an innovative and resourceful tool.
“By sharing available driveway and street spots, residents can help their community and give tzedukah at the same time,” says Blinbaum. “You can even host a car in your driveway over Shabbat. It’s a win-win solution.”
Download SpotPog at either the App Store or Google Play Store. More info on SpotPog, how it works, and its community partners can be found at www.spotpog.com.
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10 Responses
Hosting a car in your driveway on Shabbos may be problematic if the driver isn’t observant and moves the car into our out of the driveway on Shabbos.
Why can’t people just park at Hydrants?!
Sorry, in my humble opinion it is a VERY SELFISH idea. Imagine one (like me, for instance) without a smartphone circling for an hour around the vicinity of my home, for the utter zchus to park my car there for a while, circling and circling, just to watch someone zoom in and grab/swap someone’s place. SELFISH, SELFISH (and SELFISH)!
The situation is so becoming out of hand, every trip I make costs me about one hour!!! And I have a family I need to tend to… It REALLY bugs me.
They really ought to do as I once proposed, to designate and allow diagonal and vertical parking. It would double the parking spaces so desperately needed.
The answer to ZeesKite’s legitimate complaint would be to allow someone with the app to use a public parking spot only if no one else is waiting. And waiting would be realized by actually physically waiting behind the car that is pulling out. As far as the lack of fairness to those who are circling etc., them’s the breaks. Modern technology is here to stay. It’s the same as if a friend told you about a spot that’s opening up.
I think the app is most useful if you post the spot before going to your car so there is no dispute. Of course if someone is waiting at your car you don’t want to cause a fight, it’s just a parking space. The website says that if there is a dispute then just cancel the swap. Nobody wants any fights.
Regarding moving the car on Shabbos it’s likely both parties are Shomer Shabbos. The chat function is a place where you can make this understood as part of the deal.
I tested the app and it works very nicely but there are very few spots listed. As the article says it will likely take time till lots of users sign up. I think it’s a great idea.
“Why can’t people just park at Hydrants?!”
It is illegal, it endangers lives and property, and you can get a $115 fine. Not to mention that it creates a Chilul HaShem when a Jew does this.
or better yet, move to an out-of-town community like Detroit, where there are ZERO perking problems 🙂
Charliehall, let me explain. Doesn’t City Hall realize that there is a Big Issue with parking in New York City?! So why don’t they allow parking at hydrants? That would open up Thousands of spots throughout the city! Regarding endangering lives, most hydrants haven’t been used in decades! I’m sure the talented FDNY would be able to figure out how to connect their hoses, even with a car parked there. אגב a better place to prohibit parking, would be at the corner of a Stop Sign. That way the Driver inching into the intersection, would be able to see if cars are coming, instead of guessing!
Sure, The FDNY can figure out a way to get to a fire hydrant. One wiseguy decided to park in front of a hydrant. The FDNY had to get through. The Fire chief gave the command to break the cars windows to connect the hose to the hydrant. So if you want to take that chance, by all means park at a hydrant.
Sure give people another reason to be on their phone while they drive! So instead of a $35 parking ticket you’ll get a $250 fine and 2 points! Good job “spotpig”, people get killed this way.