According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Lyft now allows drivers to search for, reserve, and pay for parking spaces through its app. To provide the service, it has partnered with parking company SpotHero, promising “guaranteed parking, easy-to-find locations, and transparent pricing.”
The service will be available in “select locations,” including San Francisco, but Lyft did not specify any other regions — however, SpotHero is available in 300 US and Canadian cities across 47 states/provinces. According to Lyft’s FAQ, all you need to do is “tap the steering wheel icon in your app to see if parking is available near you.”
To use the feature, enter your vehicle’s license plate and other information. When you tap the parking icon, a map with the locations of various parking lots, including the nearest one, appears. Simply click the “Reserve Now” button to see the final price before clicking “Reserve and Pay.” It then displays the details, such as your license plate, facility information, and so on.
It’s an odd partnership because using Lyft eliminates the need for parking. Nonetheless, many people already have Lyft on their phones, so it’s more convenient than downloading yet another app. At the same time, it’s likely to be a significant boost for SpotHero and a new revenue source for Lyft.
