The core purpose of Zipstall has always been to provide Edmontonians with an innovative parking solution that treats them with respect and helps bring our communities together. For years we have been helping our customers pay for parking in City of Edmonton/EPark curbside zones and our customers love it because they get the Zipstall parking experience for their sessions (no guessing how long, pay for time used, AutoStop, etc.).
Recently we received a letter from the City’s parking provider’s lawyers that demanded that we “cease and desist” helping Edmontonians with parking in their zones. They even went so far as to shut down our account with them, without any advance notice, so that many of our customers received tickets on that day before we could remove the ability to pay for parking through the app.
Why This Matters
Since our launch in July 2022, we have proudly served over 1,956 Edmontonians, facilitating nearly 10,000 parking sessions in city zones. We’ve helped you avoid the stress of guessing how long you’ll be parked, offered automatic session endings, and charged only a minimal convenience fee for our services. Remarkably, the City has paid us ZERO DOLLARS for this amazing service, while the HotSpot contract is valued at an astonishing $2.52 million (to be paid by tax payers).
It's disheartening to think that while a small local startup like Zipstall could provide such superior service at no cost to the City, our City Parking Administration has either encouraged or done nothing to stop this aggressive tactic taken against Zipstall by their friends at HotSpot. What makes this even crazier is that many city planners and transportation experts support our mission and services and believe that Zipstall is truly the future of parking.
Impact on Local Businesses
This abrupt decision isn’t just a setback for us; it has broader implications for local businesses and consumers alike. By limiting options and forcing users to rely solely on the HotSpot app, the city is inadvertently hurting local businesses that thrive on the convenience that our service provides. Customers are now deprived of a seamless parking experience and are forced to have YET ANOTHER parking app, which can deter them from visiting their favorite shops, restaurants, and attractions. Zipstall has the best parking database of both private and public parking options and we do all of the crazy cost calculations to help our customers when they need to PLAN their TRIP.
When parking becomes a hassle, people are less likely to spend time (and money) in our the hearts of our City. We understand the importance of creating a user-friendly experience that encourages people to explore Edmonton, and our features were designed to facilitate just that.
What You’re Losing
With this decision, you’ll lose some of the features that have made Zipstall your go-to app for parking:
AutoStop: Automatically ending your parking session so you don’t have to worry about overpaying.
Getting Paid to Park: Earning rewards for helping others find parking.
Notifications: Timely alerts about maximum time limits, event pricing, and prohibited parking times.
Single App for All Parking: Seamlessly manage multiple parking options all within one app.
While you can still utilize Zipstall for non-city parking zones, we know how vital our services have been in easing your parking experiences in core areas of the city, and let’s face it, it is just way nicer to have all parking options and the best parking experience available in a single app.
How You Can Help
We believe that every Edmontonian deserves a choice when it comes to parking services. However, not everyone shares this belief, and we need your voice to help us advocate for competition and innovation in our city.
Here’s how you can support us:
Email Us: Share your thoughts and experiences with Zipstall. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us communicate our value to the city.
Social Media: Use your platforms to spread the word about Zipstall. A simple post about how our services have benefited you can make a difference.
Spread the Word: Talk to friends, family, and local businesses about why you support Zipstall. The more people know about our services, the stronger our community grows.
Together, We Can Make a Difference
As we move forward, we are committed to finding solutions to keep supporting our community. We’re not just fighting for our app; we’re fighting for a better parking experience for all Edmontonians.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, let’s advocate for a parking system that prioritizes choice, innovation, and convenience. We believe in the power of our community, and with your help, we can navigate these challenges and emerge stronger than ever.
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