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Sign of the Times in Ridgewood

Ridgewood Parking signs

September 19,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, No sign in the central business district seems to raise more consternation that the “parkmobile App” only sign at the Chestnut street parking lot. The lot it seems is only accessible for smart phone users with credit cards.

As reported on this blog it all started in May of 2015  , “Starting May 11th the Multi-space meter in the Chestnut Street Parking Lot will be deactivated. The new method of payment for up to 3 hours of parking at .50 cents per hour will be by phone using the Parkmobile App” https://theridgewoodblog.net/chestnut-street-parking-lot-goes-parkmobile-app/

While some find it hard to believe that people actually function in this day and age without a smart phone or a debit/credit card . Others are not fond of giving out credit card information or being tracked by the latest app. Parkmobile has gone to great lengths to assure uses that you personal information is encrypted and safe . Non stop stories of the latest hacking give one pause to think.

So is the latest parking technology a convenience or a nuisance ? Or survival of the fittest and just one more step in the battle for parking in Ridgewood’s central business district ?

And the sign said “Long-haired freaky people need not apply”
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said “You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do”
So I took off my hat, I said “Imagine that. Huh! Me workin’ for you!”
Whoa-oh-oh

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

And the sign said anybody caught trespassin’ would be shot on sight
So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house
“Hey! What gives you the right?”
“To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in”
“If God was here he’d tell you to your face, man, you’re some kinda sinner”

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

Now, hey you, mister, can’t you read?
You’ve got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can’t even watch, no you can’t eat
You ain’t supposed to be here
The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside
Ugh!

And the sign said, “Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray”
But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all
I didn’t have a penny to pay
So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign
I said, “Thank you, Lord, for thinkin’ ’bout me. I’m alive and doin’ fine”
Wooo!

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Sign
Sign, sign

Written by Les Emmerson

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Reader says Ridgewood should have data from parkmobile

parkmobile_meter

The town should have data from parkmobile. That should be the FIRST step to identity exactly how many spots are needed, instead of just pushing for a garage closer to the new proposed development by a company where Mayor’s wife used to work.

They are trying to use old data – 15 years ago to justify the demand. Many people say that you can always get the parking, you just need to know where to park. There are hidden spots. e.g. YMCA lot. The town can negotiate partnership with those private lots to provide parking. We can convert some streets to one way only to increase parking spaces. We can limit all street parking to 30 minutes and make it free – and all long term parking – longer than 30 minutes should be in these paid parking spaces not on the street – not in front of the shops. That will free up most lots and noone will have to circle around, if the street lots are free and are for LIMITED time – you park – do the business and go away.

Anyway – first order of business – IDENTIFY HOW MANY SPOTS ARE NEEDED – WITH A RECENT STUDY – WHICH CAPTURES DATA FOR MULTIPLE DAYS – NOT FOR ONE WEEK, NOT FOR A FEW HOURS. DON’T SPEND TAX PAYERS 15 MILLION DOLLARS ON YOUR PERSONAL AGENDA BY JUSTIFY IT USING FAKE REPORTS.

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Parkmobile Transforms Parking for the Village of Ridgewood NJ with Mobile App Solution

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May 12,2015

The Village of Ridgewood has partnered with Parkmobile the leading provider for on-demand and prepaid mobile payments for on- and off-street parking pay by phone. There will now be an easier effortless and innovative way of paying for parking transactions by mobile phone.  The new partnership will allow pay by phone transactions so residents businesses and visitors will be able to conduct their parking transactions by mobile phone throughout Ridgewood.

Ridgewood NJ May 11 2015 – Parkmobile LLC announced today a new partnership with the Village of Ridgewood that will allow customers to use their mobile phones to pay for parking at all Village owned lots. This is the first step in expanding mobile payment transactions throughout the Village of Ridgewood. Parkmobile will be available for the on-street meters in the near future as well. Customers will be able to utilize their smartphones to pay for parking using Parkmobile’s mobile applications for iPhone Android Windows Blackberry and Amazon phones. After an exhaustive search Parkmobile was selected. Patrons may register in advance at www.parkmobile.com or download the mobile app in their phone’s app store.

“We are excited to work with Parkmobile pay by phone industry leader and implement a Village-wide pay by phone option. This partnership will expand current payment options and revolutionize the current parking operation as it has done for Glen Rock Summit Chatham and Montclair.”

“We are very happy to launch our mobile payment parking service in the Village of Ridgewood” said Cherie Fuzzell CEO of Parkmobile LLC. “This technology offers customers a new and better way to pay for parking and is truly beneficial to them as well as the city. Our service eliminates the need to swipe a card or feed coins to a meter and can make our lives easier and more efficient.”

Once registered customers may use the mobile app internet or call a toll free number to pay for parking. After setting up their account they can immediately start using the system with their registered mobile phone. This convenient service also provides customers the ability to receive alerts when their meter time is about to expire and use credit cards in locations that do not offer manual credit card payments. Meters accepting coins are still available except at the Chestnut Street Lot and some parking spaces at the Rt. 17 Park & Ride Lot.

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CHESTNUT STREET Parking Lot Goes Parkmobile on May 11th

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May 11,2015
Ridgewood NJ,  Starting May 11th the Multi-space meter in the Chestnut Street Parking Lot will be deactivated. The new method of payment for up to 3 hours of parking at .50 cents per hour will be by phone using the Parkmobile App. (.35 cent fee)

The display of the Ridgewood Parking Pass (RPP) will enable users to park from 6AM to 2AM without any further payment.

Parkmobile – Pay by Phone Option available in Ridgewood

It is not too early to install the Parkmobile App on your phone . Be ready to use this “pay by phone” technology to pay for parking in Ridgewood’s Lots. This system will go live May 11th.

Click Here for Press Release.

Questions: 201/670-5500 x200

Parkmobile has created a few videos to assist you with using our service. To view a short, instructional video, please visit:

iPhone Video- https://vimeo.com/44336290

Android Video – https://vimeo.com/44393561

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Ridgewood rolling out smartphone service for drivers to pay for spaces in municipal lots

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APRIL 30, 2015, 8:41 PM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2015, 8:47 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD —Starting next week, village officials keen on averting potential parking revenue theft after a former employee stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in meter quarters will begin urging motorists who park in municipal lots to begin using their smartphones to pay for spaces.

Next week marks the official launching of Ridgewood’s recent partnership with Parkmobile, the Atlanta-based company behind the popular parking app that links directly to a credit card, debit card or PayPal account.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn called next week’s rollout of the app a “soft launch,” adding that only the meters in Ridgewood’s parking lots would be affixed with Parkmobile stickers.

In most instances, users are asked to input information from each meter’s sticker as well as their car’s license plate number.

Plate readers — like the two the village already owns — will be used for enforcement.

Additionally, Parkmobile operates a toll-free number motorists can call to pay for parking.

In two weeks, village officials will actively promote the app’s availability in the town’s lots, Aronsohn said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-rolling-out-smartphone-service-for-drivers-to-pay-for-spaces-in-municipal-lots-1.1322913

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Parking fees for Ridgewood’s pay-by-phone service are set

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123park3

Parking fees for Ridgewood’s pay-by-phone service are set

March 23, 2015    Last updated: Monday, March 23, 2015, 10:14 AM
By Mark Krulish
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News

An ordinance establishing fees for paying parking meters through cell phones was adopted unanimously by the Village Council on March 11 after a minor tweak was made to allow for a reduction on the transaction fee.

The new ordinance seemed set for passage as it was, but during the public hearing, a member of the audience noted the language contained in the new mandate could potentially mitigate any discounts that may be offered by ParkMobile.

At metered spots in the village, parkers will continue to pay 50 cents an hour and will have the choice to use quarters or ParkMobile. A 35-cent transaction fee is added for those using the new technology.

In places where meters will not be available, such as the Park & Ride on Route 17, commuters will be able to utilize ParkMobile, Ridgewood Parking Permits (RPP) or daily passes.

Boyd Loving, a South Irving Street resident, said the ordinance up for consideration would not allow for ParkMobile to reduce the transaction fee if they chose to do so in the future.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/pay-by-phone-parking-fees-in-ridgewood-set-1.1294066