Taking St. John's PayByPhone parking for a test drive

One week after St. John's launched itsnew PayByPhone parking system on Harbour Drive, the city says it has received just a handful of complaints.

Instead of feeding the meter, drivers now pay using the PayByPhone app, or by calling a toll-free number.

Andrea Efford says the app is a big improvement.

"It's actually best kind, because I work in a restaurant and I'm a bartender. So it makes it really hard for me to actually get out and pay my meter." Efford said.

"It actually sends you a text five minutes prior, gives me a heads up to just go on there and up my time."

One issue is the time it takes to set-up the app. A CBC reporter managed to download the app, create a new account, and pay for parking in about five minutes. But doing it in a hurry could be trickier.

"I'm pretty good with technology." said Ryan Quinlan, as he fiddled with the app. "But right now it's like, I'm trying to figure this out, I've got a hair appointment to get to, and it's a bit of a time crunch."

So far, more than 350 people have signed up for the app.

City Councillor Debbie Hanlon, who chairs the city's transportation committee, saidthere are other places to park for people who don't like the new system.

"It's only 136 spaces here along the harbourfront. There's over 600meter spaces, and I think 200parking spaces in the garage (at 351 Water Street), so there's 800 spaces down here besides this particular location."

The city is piloting the app on Harbour Drive for a year, but may expand it to other areas before then. In some areas, the city will retain existing meters but give drivers the option of using the app.

Hanlon says this plan was in place before the problem of meters being destroyed or vandalised reached crisis levels.

As for older drivers, Hanlon saidit's a mistake to assume they won't be comfortable with the app.

"My mom is 76, and she had no trouble downloading the app." she said. "In fact, she was offended that I thought she wouldn't be able to do it!"

You can download the PayByPhone app through Apple's App Store or Google Play.