Warning: Those 'accessible' parking apps are a scam for most of us

I tried 3 different parking apps last month in Austin that claimed to show accessible spots... they all just pointed to general lots with no real info on curb cuts or van space width. One even directed me to a spot with a giant pothole right at the ramp. After that, I started calling the lot directly before I go and asking for a specific accessible stall number. Has anyone else found a way to make these apps actually useful or do we just have to rely on old school calls?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas_brown16d ago

Yeah, that bit about the app sending you to a lot with a pothole right at the ramp, that pretty much sums up my whole experience with "helpful" tech lately. It's like all these companies build this stuff in a vacuum, they never actually test it in the real world where things are broken and uneven. I've noticed the same pattern with those grocery store apps that claim to show which aisles have the lower shelves or the clearance items, they're always wrong by the time you get there. My take is these apps are built by people who never have to use them themselves, they just check a box and move on. So yeah, old school calls or even better, finding a spot by word of mouth from other folks in the community, that's still the real deal.

thomas_brown11d ago

My trick is I call the lot and ask for a specific accessible stall number, like I ask them to hold stall 14 for me if they can. Also if you're in a city with a disability commission or advocacy group, they sometimes keep a running list of lots that actually have decent accessible spots. I drive an old van with a side lift and I've learned the hard way that "accessible" on an app means nothing unless it mentions a 12 foot wide aisle next to the van space. Word of mouth from the local independent living center has saved me more headaches than any app ever did.