Edmonton moving to mobile-only paid parking this spring

The City of Edmonton is phasing out all EPark machines, the system used to pay for street parking and at city parkades and one seniors advocate is worried the change will be difficult for those who don't have access to a phone. 

Machines will be phased out starting next month and drivers will now have to use the HotSpot app or website to pay.

Cathy McLean, who worked for 18 years at the Scona Seniors' Centre and is now a senior herself said the decision isn't age-friendly.

"I'm horrified," McLean said. 

"Many seniors are still driving but they don't have a cellphone, or computer, and aren't happy about needing to use technology in any way shape or form. So it's really going to be a problem for them in finding adequate parking."

Jenny Albers, general supervisor of planning and permitting with the City of Edmonton said that a phased approach is being taken, starting with the machines with the lowest usage.

• Between April 14 and May 31, machines will be removed at North Edge, Alberta Avenue, Kingsway, Stony Plain, 124th Street and Old Strathcona.

• Then from May 15 to July 31, they will be removed from downtown, including zones near Rogers Place and parkades at city hall, the Stanley A. Milner library and Canada Place.

Albers said that for those who don't have data or a smartphone, they can pay through a phone call. 

But there's a catch: you must have an existing account because the company will not accept credit card information over the phone. New users can create an account online before leaving home, then call HotSpot to tell them the zone they are parked in and the duration they'll be parked for.

If you don't have a phone or left it at home? You're out of luck.

"We have other parking on the street — whether it's open free parking, time-restricted parking, or if there's really no other option to be going to private parking options," Albers said.

"We do know it's a bit of a transition for folks."

The machines were due for replacement because the city contract with the vendor was ending this year, and the technology was not compliant with payment standards, Albers said. They only accept magnetic stripe credit cards, not the chip and pin style that is becoming more commonplace.

When the city ran the numbers on the cost of replacing outdated public parking machines, it found the $2.8 million dollar price tag was just too high.

Because of these factors and the cost of replacement, city council decided in the fall 2024 budget process to discontinue them.

McLean said she worked well past the typical retirement age, which kept her up to date with technology. But working with seniors, she's seen firsthand what impact a change like this will have.

"I know lots of people have phones right now, but what if they don't have the money to buy one? What if it's a senior who's scared to death of technology and just avoids it like the plague?"

She said when confronted with a sign telling them to download an app, some people might just turn around and go home.

"I don't know how they would make that work for everyone."

One other change drivers will see in the coming months, is that two-hour parking limits have been removed from EPark zones on evenings and weekends. That change comes into effect July 1.