It is now possible to pay charges for parking in the centre of Bratislava through mobile-phone text messages, after a new system was introduced on July 1.
Project Mobil Parking allows parking in places that have until now been reserved for payment through swipe cards, the TASR newswire wrote. The new system provides an alternative to the cards, which will remain valid. Both systems charge Sk10 (€0.33) per hour on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mobil Parking is designed to improve the quality of services to match those used in other European cities, to increase the effectiveness of carpark usage, to improve payment checks, to develop an integrated parking system, and to create conditions for more intense cross-border co-operation and tourism development.
"The advantage of this system is that our drivers can use it in Vienna too, and vice-versa. This service is also being considered for other Slovak towns, and it is up to the local authorities whether or not they are interested," said Bratislava Old Town deputy mayor Peter Tatár at a press conference on July 1. The project cost almost Sk52 million (€1.72 million) to set up, and was financed partly by the EU, with the borough contributing Sk2.5 million (€82,700).
Registration for the Mobile Parking service at www.m-parking.sk is free of charge. Drivers will pay parking charges using their phone credit. When people park their cars, they will send a text message stating how long they intend to park. Parking is booked only after the text message is received. The appropriate sum will then be deducted from the drivers' credit. If a driver needs to park for a longer time, he or she won't have to return to the car, but will be able to arrange an extension on the spot. Credit can be obtained from MPay Slovakia, the system operator. Businessmen and companies can order monthly parking reports. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
