Launched in early January, the city's new pay-by-phone parking app is being touted as a quick and easy alternative that saves time and, through ticket avoidance, money. But with a tied-in surcharge and limited top-up options, some people say the cent-less option doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 make much sense.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 feel itSA国际影视传媒檚 necessary,SA国际影视传媒� said Linda, a city resident who didnSA国际影视传媒檛 wish to give her last name, during a recent interview in the citySA国际影视传媒檚 downtown.

While the app, dubbed MacKay Pay, and downloaded through Pingstreet Mobile, is free itself, a 35-cent surcharge on top of standard hourly rates goes to the app's maker for every mobile payment, said the citySA国际影视传媒檚 communications officer Richard McIntosh.

The surcharge, however, doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 translate to extra coins in the citySA国际影视传媒檚 coffers, as the fee is retained entirely by MacKay Pay.

While operation fees linked to payment apps arenSA国际影视传媒檛 uncommon, Linda said the few extra cents are enough to keep her feeding the meter the old fashioned way.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 right. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 probably why I would use money,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

But for perpetual parker Evelyn Keeping, the cashless convenience of the app is worth the 35-cent price tag.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not that much. I mean, in all apps youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to have something thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to go to the creator. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the world we live in, so what can we do? Keeping asked.

Keeping, who hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 hit the download button just yet, said sheSA国际影视传媒檇 considered going cashless to curb the parking problems she navigates regularly.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a headache for a lot of people. I work in the (downtown) area so I know,SA国际影视传媒� said Keeping. SA国际影视传媒淓ven for my co-workers itSA国际影视传媒檚 a bit of nuisance with parking. EveryoneSA国际影视传媒檚 always looking at options.SA国际影视传媒�

Options, according to McIntosh, are what the rollout of the app is all about.

SA国际影视传媒淭he app was made available to make it more convenient for people to pay for parking,SA国际影视传媒� he stated in an email. SA国际影视传媒淣ot everyone chooses to use the apps but now they have the option.SA国际影视传媒�

But what happens when time on an app-activated meter runs out?

SA国际影视传媒淭he app will allow users to pay for a maximum allowed time set by the meter (one, two, or nine hours). If a person initially pays for 15 minutes they can top off to whatever the maximum time at the meter allows,SA国际影视传媒� stated McIntosh.

In other words, while time can be added remotely, top-offs can only be initiated by users if the initial amount of time they paid for is under the three maximum time limits.

Several Yellowknifers interviewed for this article agreed that a new parkade would be a great convenience for people living and working downtown. It would free up street parking for shoppers or people who just need to park for a short period of time.

Meters in the central core have a maximum time of one, or two hours. Meters on surrounding streets have a nine-hour maximum.

A parking pass for use at the nine-hour parking meters costs $120 per month or $999 per year. Parking meter violations are enforced Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding public holidays.