Skip to main content
Aug 19, 2024
Parking

City launches new mobile parking app

Photo of a payment parking meter in Downtown Rochester.

Mayor Malik D. Evans announced today the launch of an improved way for motorists to make payments at City parking meters and select pay stations using their mobile device. There will be a new Flowbird pay-by-app and pay-by-text feature that provides users with a simple and convenient way to pay for their on-street parking from the comfort of their vehicle. 

The user-friendly, pay-by-app and pay-by-text technology allows motorists to set customizable notifications to receive warnings for when their meter time is expiring and to extend parking times with ease.   

“We continue to modernize our metered parking technologies, and this new app brings us further into the digital age,” said Mayor Evans. “This is just the latest improvement our parking team has made to increase flexibility and convenience for those who work, play, and visit our city.”

The pay stations and parking meters will display a blue decal with information on how to pay by app or text. 

How it works:

  • To pay-by-app, users download the Flowbird App to their mobile phone from the Apple Store or Google Play or visit www.flowbirdapp.com.  Once signed up and logged in, users simply enter their vehicle license plate number, length of stay, and encrypted payment information. There is $0.35 processing fee. 
  • To pay-by-text, the user sends a text to the number displayed on the pay station or parking meter at their parking location. The user will receive a text reply that directs them to a secure link to enter the vehicle license plate number, length of stay, and encrypted payment information to start the parking session. There is also a $0.35 processing fee.

“There are several benefits to this feature,” said Sarah Nowack, the City’s Parking Director. “If someone is conducting business at City Hall or the County Office building, or is downtown for a festival or event, they can move their vehicle to a different valid parking location and keep using the same paid time until their original meter session runs out.”

Drivers can still pay for parking using a credit card or coins at pay stations and parking meters.

Users paying by mobile device will not have to display the electronic pay station receipt on their vehicle's dashboard. Parking enforcement will scan the vehicle’s registration to ensure parking compliance.