The High Cost of Parking 

One of the most common complaints of people in large urban areas, whether tourists, business travelers, or locals, is that there’s a lack of parking. Parking that’s available is often very expensive – ranging anywhere from $25 a day in Chicago to $65 a day. For condo owners, parking spaces can cost a fortune. A Center for Neighborhood Technology report reveals that, in Chicago, the cost to build a personal parking spot can be more than $37,000 – and purchasing a parking space to own can cost over $50,000 in some of Chicago’s high-rise condo garages. Similar situations exist in other large cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The absurd truth is that parking spaces cost more than some people earn in a year. This means that, in many cities, only the affluent can afford adequate parking.

The exorbitant cost of parking often makes it difficult and impractical to build new parking spaces. Quite simply, many communities can’t afford to provide more parking. One study of 12 American cities found that the average cost to build a parking space is $24,000 for above-ground and $34,000 for below-ground spaces. These prices assume that the owner already owns the land. Because of this, residents ultimately pay the costs of new parking facilities. This is one of the causes of rising rents, even for people who don’t own cars. So-called free parking is not a solution. Access Magazine reports that free parking requirements raise the cost of housing and reduce density. In other words, the cost is invisible but people are still paying it. And according to CNT, the supply of parking in 4 cities (Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Seattle) far exceeds demand. Buildings offer two spots for every 3 units, and in reality (due to the ~33 percent average vacancy) they only need one for every three.

The Environmental Impact of Parking

When people talk about the environmental costs of automobiles, they’re usually talking about moving vehicles. Parking, however, creates its own environmental problems. For one thing, the current parking model is extremely wasteful. People are paying high fees for spaces they only need during certain hours. The above-cited CNT report found that one-third of off-street residential parking spaces are empty at night. If the average person uses these spaces for work, that means that they only need the space for 40-50 hours per week. In a world where, particularly in large cities, there’s a lack of space for affordable housing, this is a significant issue.

There’s also the fact that free parking encourages people to drive. When downtown areas, for example, provide lots of parking access, people who might otherwise take a bus, tram, or train are more likely to drive. A study by Chris McCahill of the State Smart Transportation Initiative found clear evidence that excessive parking causes more driving. This not only means that people with cars tend to drive more, it also influences people’s decisions to own a car at all. In urban areas with extensive public transportation, owning an automobile is often a choice rather than a necessity. More driving, of course, creates a variety of environmental problems, such as air pollution. There’s also the less measurable factor of stress that accompanies traffic jams, which impacts public health. And according to Donald Shoup’s study released in 2011 titled Free Parking or Free Markets, 30 percent of cars in congested downtown traffic are searching for parking. If these “searches” booked their parking in advance, traffic and pollution would be substantially reduced and time and gas would be saved.

It’s safe to say that the current parking paradigm is outdated and full of serious problems. The solution is not to build more parking garages. It’s similar to the supposed solution of building more roads to control traffic. Evidence shows that more roads lead to more traffic. The same is true for parking. What’s needed is a completely new way of handling parking.

The Parking Alternative

Companies like ParqEx, SPOT and JustPark use the Airbnb model to address the urban parking challenge. The basic idea behind all sharing or collaborative economy platforms is to provide services as needed in a fast and efficient manner, by using technology. Consider the difference between the hotel model and the Airbnb model. A hotel has a static number of rooms, whether anyone is using them or not. Meanwhile, Airbnb lets travelers rent space in people’s homes as an alternative to hotels, motels, and B & Bs. In addition to providing people with cheaper rooms, this reduces the need for more hotels and allows people to make some supplemental income.

One major benefit of this type of arrangement is the convenience for consumers, who simply order services by using an app. With these sharing economy “marketplace” apps, users simply search for a parking space and book the spot directly from the app. Not only does the renter gain access to more affordable and convenient parking, but he/she knows there is a spot waiting for them upon arrival. While companies such as SpotHero and ParkWhiz are primarily aggregators of commercial parking garages in downtown areas, the Airbnb model approach allows for individuals, businesses, churches, schools, anyone with a private parking spot(s) to list them on the app/website by the hour, day, week or month – whenever the spot(s) is available. Not only are parking spot owners making supplemental income from their underutilized parking spots, but they are helping their communities by opening up more parking supply in the neighborhood.

With many private parking spots being located behind garage doors or gates, ParqEx differentiates itself from its competitors with its innovative IoT solution called Access+. The Access+ system allows renters and approved users to open any garage door or gate with a click of a button on their smart phones. Implementing Access+ increases rental opportunities, improves transparency into garage usage, and provides great convenience for both owners and renters.

From a parking spot owner perspective, sharing economy parking apps provide a new source of income. Most owners are renting out spaces they already have, so they’re earning money on space that was previously unused. Owners can set their own prices, however, prices are generally lower than commercial parking lots or garages. This is generally true of Airbnb or other sharing economy models of business (like Uber vs. Taxis). Owners and renters engage with each other directly, eliminating the middleman. Since the service providers are not corporations and are using property (e.g. living space, vehicle, or parking space) that they already own, they can afford to set reasonable prices.

How The “Airbnb Model” is Transforming Parking

There are some significant benefits to society as this Airbnb of parking model becomes more and more mainstream.

Faced with a variety of challenges, urban planners are increasingly looking for ways to create “smart cities.” This involves collecting lots of data and finding innovative solutions to issues such as housing, transportation, crime, and other social issues. In some cases, the best solutions don’t require an expensive, centralized solution. ParqEx, SPOT and JustPark provide a smart parking alternative that only requires owners and renters to install an app. Some of the long-term benefits of using this type of smart parking include:

• More affordable, convenient parking for commuters, travelers, and city residents.
• Less need for additional parking facilities.
• More efficient use of resources may lead to less driving and traffic congestion.
• As more people use the app, even conventional parking options are likely to become easier, with less crowded free parking and lower rates for commercial parking.

The way the public has embraced other sharing economy services suggests that people are eager to find new and innovative solutions. More and more services are disrupting conventional business models. In addition to Uber and Airbnb, there are now collaborative solutions in healthcare, web-based services, and many other industries. It only makes sense that there’s also such an alternative for parking.

The post Make money with these new parking apps appeared first on ParqEx.

Parking Pain-Points

In an article found on ZDNet called: “The Internet of Things: does it start with parking?”, written on December 6, 2012 by Mary O’Conner, we learn:

“A 2006 study in Brookyln, New York, found 45 percent of surveyed drivers were circling blocks, looking for street parking (sure, they could have paid $20 for a lot, but when street meters only cost $1, it’s easy to see the rationale). In other cities, on average 30 percent of traffic in congested areas is comprised of drivers looking for parking.”

Now, take these stats and imagine all the large cities in the U.S. and worldwide; solving the parking problem will deal with a major pain point in modern cities. Increasing the supply of rentable parking spots is the goal of ParqEx, and the main tool used is the smartphone.

Solving logistical parking issues in large cities will help reduce: carbon emissions, gas, time to find parking spaces, excessive amounts being paid for parking, frustrations in trying to find parking, and accidents that occur because of heavy traffic congestion.

Finding a parking spot that’s affordable and accessible is what many urban commuters, tourists, and residents dream of. Going to an event center in the city shouldn’t be ruined with parking woes, yet finding adequate parking is sometimes a battle that takes hours and costs nearly hundreds. Indeed, rentable parking shortages in metropolises are a thorn in the side of most urban dwellers and visitors.

Parking Solutions Include the IoT

The IoT, in relation to smart cities, is the technology and online systems being used to create innovative solutions and solve complex logistical issues, such as parking. For instance, parking spot sensors are being used by parking garages and city governments, in order to inform drivers of vacancies (and owners of non-compliance) and navigate them to the spot – all through their smartphones. Technology and the IoT has even shown to play a positive factor on individual health.

Another example is ParqEx’s service, which acts as a broker between those renting their private parking spaces and the renters parking in the spaces. Reservations, location information, cost, pictures of spaces, specific rules from space owners, and payments – are all facilitated through the ParqEx App.

The ParqEx Access+ technology is also available; this innovative IoT solution allows users to access and manage entry into their parking spaces – by opening and closing the door or gate remotely through a smartphone. Access+ can be used by: property managers, apartment tenants, homeowners, condo boards, etc. – to efficiently manage and streamline access to parking areas.

Essentially, what makes IoT technology so powerful is its ability to communicate and integrate with other systems and technological solutions within a city. Using cloud and mobile computing technology, combined with the nearly universal rate of smartphone usage, the IoT is creating innovative solutions not possible before. Closing a garage door from across the world through a mobile app is a good example.

Summary

IoT technology is working together through innovative cloud and mobile solutions, in order to create business opportunities and solve complex logistical issues. Smart cities are being developed by many individual companies using separate systems that communicate with each other. The agility and flexibility being offered by the cloud is far preferable to, exclusively, on-premises logistical solutions.

Access+ gives property owners the ability to streamline and enhance their parking service to customers or employees. Instead of rolling down their window and punching numbers, they can use their smartphones for safer, more convenient, and quicker entry. Also, superior data analytics will give owners more strategic tools for business improvements and streamlined management.

Technology is promising to be the best solution for overcrowded city streets, in the U.S. and worldwide. In particular, sharing economy solutions, like the ParqEx App and Access+, are giving residents and visitors viable and affordable parking solutions. In addition to helping drivers find parking spots, ParqEx and Access+ are creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and giving businesses the tools needed to enhance their services.

IoT technological innovation will continue, as will the number of ways startups find to make it useful for society. Already, with the right mobile apps downloaded, parking has become easier in day-to-day life in many cities. If interested in learning more about ParqEx and Access+ please contact us today.

The post How ParqEx is Using IoT to Increase the Supply of Rentable Parking Spots appeared first on ParqEx.

One of the most amazing things this data could do for us would be to predict to the rise and fall of crowd levels in any given location.

This newfound ability would be profound in that it would provide cities the opportunity to cater to the needs of rising numbers of people in a particular place. For instance, an area that is predicted to see a sudden spike in residents could be prepared with places to acquire food and drink, as well as additional security measures. Moreover, buildings and outdoor spaces could be designed in such a way as to better accommodate and control crowds.

Crowd and population prediction is an enormous step in the right direction and could help communities around the world better distribute their resources. This is something that will become more and more important as the population grows and resources become more scarce.

Besides food and drink, another resource that could be better distributed based on this data is space. As populations grow, land becomes harder to come by. From new apartments and houses to additional parking lots, land is snatched up left and right, and the new homes and parking spaces are filled more quickly than they can be built.

One way to help alleviate this problem is through the use of big data and smart city design. If we had a way to predict where people would need and want to be in the near future, we could add living spaces as well as parking spaces in the places they will be needed most. Obviously, this would reduce the number of issues we see with lack of living and parking space.

ParqEx is a perfect example of a business that is set up to take full advantage of this smart city data and provide people with what they need, when they need it. With the right data and predictive systems, ParqEx would have the ability to relieve parking issues by adding parking solutions in the neighborhoods and other parts of cities that need them most.

Additional parking would solve more than one problem. In addition to opening up more options for the growing crowds, it would also relieve traffic congestion that is so often caused by individuals searching — sometimes in vain — for a decent place to park. This is due to the fact that parking places found on ParqEx are found and reserved online, therefore completely removing the searching aspect of parking a vehicle.

As we move into the future, it will be interesting to see where data-driven smart cities will take us. The ease of parking offered by ParqEx and improved flow of traffic in public spaces are just the beginning of what could happen should we continue to improve upon the idea of the smart city. Who knows? The smart city may be just what we need as we move into the future of our world.

If you are interested in putting ParqEx to work, or if you would like to learn more about how we believe we could use big data and smart cities to the advantage of our customers, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are always happy to chat about the future of both our business and the world.

The post Smart cities – smart data – smart parking appeared first on ParqEx.

On Wednesday, January 25th, Tech in Motion , in conjunction with National Association of Realtors, hosted a panel event: Smart City – IoT in Chicago.

Some of the city’s top technologists will be demoing and then speaking on a panel about their innovative work – with hopes to transform Chicago into a smarter city in the future.

You’ve probably heard of products like Google Home, Amazon Echo and Nest Thermostat, all of which are products that connect to the internet to make life easier and the home a lot smarter. The IoT Smart City Chicago will provide an in-depth look at some of the technology trends inside creating a smarter city: energy efficiency, environmental quality, traffic, safety, increasing return on investment/home value.

For Tickets: Click HERE

Keynote Speaker

Brenna Berman – Chief Information Officer at City of Chicago – Department of Innovation & Technology

Chicago Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) Commissioner and CIO, Brenna Berman joined the Emanuel administration in 2011 as Deputy Budget Director focused on enterprise initiatives and performance management.  After a year in that role, Brenna transitioned to DoIT as 1st Deputy Commissioner to focus on enterprise IT consolidation and operational excellence.

Over the past year at DoIT, Berman has focused transforming the team at DoIT to align with the Mayor’s commitment to an open and data-driven government, building Chicago’s open data program into one of the largest in the country, implemented the ground-breaking “WindyGrid” spatial analytics platform into every level of government, integrating advanced analytics and real-time data-driven decision making across the city, and setting a new standard for government IT.

Berman played a critical role in transforming the team at DoIT to provide the skills and expertise to implement the Mayor’s commitment to leveraging data and technology to create a more efficient, effective and innovative City government. This has meant adding new skills to the team to increase the focus on software engineering and analytics, improving the department’s commercial partnerships to drive savings for the City and identifying ground-breaking civic partnerships, including hosting regular meetings with local female tech startup owners.

Moderator

Chad Curry 

As Managing Director for NAR’s Center for REALTOR® Technology, Chad Curry investigates emerging technologies, educates NAR members & the public through presentations, webinars, blogs and podcasts, and manages the development of products for use by members. He’s presented to REALTORS® on the national, state and local levels. Chad is also a Board Member for the Real Estate Standards Organization, where he works to streamline real estate transaction technology.

Currently, Chad’s work is focused on research and development of smart home devices, iBeacons and wearables as well as renewable energies. Specifically, he is investigating how these trends will impact the real estate industry and benefit members. They’ve set up CRTLabs, focused on testing and developing devices for the home to help improve quality of life.  He is a member of the Internet of Things Council and is part of the Research Workgroup. Chad currently lives in Chicago with his family where he enjoys music, art, soccer and travel.

Panelists

Christopher Coté is a software engineer with a passion for hardware.

He is the Lead Lab Engineer for the National Association of Realtors’ R&D Lab, CRT Labs (https://crtlabs.org)

Prior to joining NAR Chris ran his own software development and consulting company.

He was a lead engineer for the Obama 2012 campaign and has helped found and build several startups around the Chicago area.

Christopher has always found himself driven to create sustainable and efficient systems, whether that’s for massive political campaigns, growing food or controlling and monitoring the built world.

This experience has given him a unique insight into how technology and the built world coexist in society today and will continue to evolve into the future.

Jon Thacker, Ph.D., has been working with embedded networking devices for the past 10 years. Recently he joined SparkMeter as the Director or Research and Development, where he is working on the next generation of communication protocols and hardware for their low-cost metering solution. SparkMeter provides a fully managed electrical metering solution for underserved markets with the goal of providing sufficient, robust, and affordable energy for all. Jon is a contributor to RIOT OS, an open source operating system for IoT. Outside of technology, he spends his time racing and instructing on sailboats.

Douglas Pancoast A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design and Cranbrook Academy of Art, architect Douglas Pancoast has worked for firms including Richard Meier and Partners, 1100 Architect, BlackBox Studio at SOM, and agency.com. His work has been shown in the Chicago-based exhibitions Art in the Urban Garden, Mystique: Space, Technology, and Craft and Speculative Chicago; and in Scale at the Architectural League of New York and the National Building Museum, Washington, DC. His projects have been featured in Architectural Record, Architecture, A.P.+, and The Architectural Review, and in the book Young Architects: Scale. Pancoast has lectured widely on his own work and on the topic of trans-disciplinary education, and has served as a guest critic at such institutions as Columbia University , Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Parsons School of Design.

Current interests include examining how large, public data sets (economic, environmental, social, cultural, civic) are a context for creative practice. Pancoast is a co-investigator for the NSF grant supported Urban Sciences Research Coordination Network, an award meant to build inter-institutional collaborative research capacity around the subject of “big data” for social benefit. Since 2012 Pancoast has been a frequent co-investigator in the newly established Urban Center for Computation and Data (http://www.urbanccd.org/index.php), specifically providing architectural knowledge, and visualization expertise for a network of associated projects groups in Chicago including Open City (http://opencityapps.org/#about). Recent projects include the Array of Things (https://arrayofthings.github.io/) – a city scaled collection of environmental sensors deployed in Chicago providing data on city conditions for the Chicago Open Data Portal.

Derek Eder  is a civic technologist and one of the leaders of the open government community in Chicago. He is founder and partner at DataMade, a company that tells stories and builds tools with data, co-founder of Open City, a collective that makes civic apps to to improve transparency and understanding of our government, and organizer for the Chi Hack Night, Chicago’s premier weekly event for building civic technology with open data.

Vivek Mehra is the CEO and Founder of ParqEx. He’s a visionary with over 18 years of technical leadership experience as a developer, architect, CTO, Director and Founder. Mehra has earned Masters degrees in Information Systems and Management from University of Illinois-Chicago and University of South Carolina, respectively.

He is particularly strong at introducing proven tools, methodologies and processes that have slashed development times, improved quality and increased internal/external customer satisfaction.

Mehra’s deep technical expertise and and hands-on experience architecting and building technology solutions has lead him to two successful startup exits and high-level positions at Fortune 500 Companies.

Mehra hopes to transform Chicago’s real estate scene with ParqEx’s Private Parking Marketplace, as well as its Access+ technology that can open gates and garage doors directly from a smart phone.

Demo Companies

CRT Labs 

The mission of the National Association of REALTORS’® Center for REALTOR® Technology is to track emerging technologies that will affect real estate, educate its members, advocate for the proper use of technology, and innovate when there is a gap between what is needed and what is available. In 2015, CRT established a lab to investigate smart home/internet of things devices, renewable energy, urban agriculture and building materials, as well as any other emerging technologies as they become evident. CRT is working with NGOs, vendors, national laboratories, universities and government agencies to help promote NAR as an agent for technology research and innovation.

DataMade

DataMade was born out of Chicago’s Open Government community. In 2011, Derek and Forest started working on civic technology as volunteers of Open City. At nights and over weekends, they’ve helped make civic apps like Chicago Lobbyists, Clear Streets, and Second City Zoning.

In 2012, DataMade was founded to deepen and sustain the impact of civic technology.

Members of DataMade continue to prototype civic apps under the Open City banner to allow collaboration on open source projects without money or business getting in the way. When asked to re-deploy one of these apps (like Look at Cook), the work is done by DataMade and kept as open source.

DataMade also acts as the fiscal agent for the Chi Hack Night in addition to being a recurring sponsor.

SparkMeter

SparkMeter offers comprehensive low-cost metering solutions for everything from rural micro-grids to existing urban central grid utilities. Our products help make access to electricity possible in hard-to-reach places and underserved markets.

ParqEx

ParqEx – The Private Parking Marketplace – connects people with underutilized parking spots to people looking for parking in busy neighborhoods. Using ParqEx, parking owners are able to rent their parking spot(s) on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis and earn some extra cash. If you have a parking spot anywhere, you can list it on ParqEx in minutes. It’s like Airbnb for parking!

With many private parking spots being located behind garage doors or gates. ParqEx has also developed an innovative IoT solution called Access+. The Access+ system allows renters and approved users to open any garage door or gate with a click of a button on their smart phones. Implementing Access+ increases rental opportunities, improves transparency into garage usage, and provides great convenience for both owners and renters.

*Much of the information used in this blog is courtesy of Tech in Motion*

The post Tech In Motion: Smart City IoT appeared first on ParqEx.

Trying to decide which February events you should attend? Here are a few of our favorite free options in the area.

Museum “Free Days”

If you have never visited the Museum of Science and Industry, you are missing out on one amazing hall of knowledge.

Don’t miss out on the incredible experience offered by this museum. Instead, take advantage of free admission on any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in February 2017, and explore some interesting and mind-boggling exhibits you won’t soon forget. This is one event you’ll be glad you took the time for!

Chinese Lunar New Year Parade

The Chinese New Year is a very fun and colorful holiday. Why not get in on the fun yourself by attending the Chinese New Year Parade in Chicago?

The parade will be held on February 5th, 2017 from 12pm–3pm at Archer and Wentworth Ave. It will feature eye-catching floats, live music by marching bands, and some incredible traditional dancing. What better way to start a new year?

“Neighborhoods of the World” Events

A collection of family-friendly celebrations to be presented at Navy Pier, the “Neighborhoods of the World” events are a great way to explore various cultures.

The series will begin with a China-centered event on February 12th, 2017. After that, the celebrations will be held weekly on Saturdays through the final event on March 26th. Each Saturday will focus on a different country and feature live music, traditional dancing, cultural cuisine, and crafts from around the world.

Handmade Market at The Empty Bottle

The local Handmade Market is a fun way to spend an afternoon. The February 2017 market will be held on the 11th at The Empty Bottle. It will feature the work of a number of local artists and craftspeople, all of which will be available for purchase.

While many people won’t be able to attend this adorable market without making a purchase, it can make for a free fun day out if you are able to use self-control. (Then again, what fun is that?)

Polar Adventure Days

Looking for some outdoor fun? You might want to look into the Polar Adventure Days offered by the Parks and Recreation Department.

The February Polar Adventure Day will be held on February 25th, 2017. The event is a winter exploration of the new Northerly Island Natural Area. It includes encounters with live animals, winter-themed craft projects, and free hot chocolate. This is the perfect event for kids of all ages!

Need parking for these events? 

Of course, if you are going to attend these events, you will need to consider parking. While some of the activities mentioned may have private parking available to guests, others leave you to fend for yourself. Make sure you are prepared by putting the ParqEx service to use.

ParqEx allows users to find and rent convenient parking no matter where they roam. The parking options available are owned by individuals, meaning you will receive the one-on-one service you deserve with the security of working through a bigger company.

If you are considering using ParqEx to rent parking in the Chicago area, we encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have. It is our goal to ensure you are well taken care of and have a wonderful experience using our innovative new service.

The post Five Free February Events in Chicago appeared first on ParqEx.

Unfortunately, “peace” and “kiddos” don’t always mix. After all, babies will cry, siblings will fight, and toddlers will somehow unroll the entire roll of toilet paper in the 30 seconds that you are not looking, and none of these things lends themselves well to snuggling on the couch to watch a movie. That said, a nice quiet night in isn’t impossible to find when you think outside the box and take advantage of the thriving sharing economy right here in Chicago.

Here is how to get cozy in a comfy, quiet space while still knowing the kids are happy and cared for.

Get a Sitter — The first concern of any parent is always finding a trustworthy sitter. Luckily, Chime by Sittercity makes it quick and easy to find a babysitter with great credentials and no problems passing a background check. Additionally, the app allows you to read reviews left by parents just like you, making it even easier to feel confident in your sitter selection.

Rent a Room — Step two? Finding a place to have your peaceful night in. Luckily, the sharing economy steps in again with a few different wonderful solutions.

Our personal favorite peer-to-peer room rental service is the ever-popular Airbnb, which truly earns all of the praise thrown its way. Find a nice, clean, and—most importantly—quiet place to have your cozy date night while the kids stay safe and comfortable in the familiar environment of their own home.

Find Parking — Of course, booking a room in the Chicago area does not always mean you will have parking to go along with it. For this reason, it is important to find parking before date night arrives. This will ensure you don’t waste your relaxing evening searching for an acceptable parking place.

If you are having trouble finding a spot, be sure to check out ParqEx. This peer-to-peer parking spot rental service makes finding affordable and convenient parking a simple, smooth process that will take all of the stress out of parking.

Dinner Delivered — Nobody wants to cook during their evening of relaxation, and going out for food doesn’t exactly fit the theme of a relaxing evening in. This is where Door Dash steps in to save the day.

This amazing delivery service will deliver your dinner—and dessert, if you wish—to your door from almost any local restaurant for a small fee. This means whether you are in the mood for Chinese, Mexican, or burgers, you can have exactly what you crave, without having to step one foot out the door. What could be more convenient than that?

Line Up Entertainment — Date night just isn’t complete without a bit of entertainment. Whether you and your partner prefer video games, movies, or board games, you are sure to find some great entertainment options available for rent on Zilok. This website allows individuals to rent out items they don’t use on a regular basis in order to 1) reduce the number of material things being made and bought, and 2) make it easier to afford those items you may only use once or twice.

Clearly, anything is possible with the sharing economy, even spending a night snuggling with your partner without the toddler climbing on top of you.

If you would like to learn more about the various ways these types of peer-to-peer sharing companies can improve your life, feel free to have a look around our blog.

Want to know more? Please contact us today. We are passionate about growing this wonderful thing we call the sharing economy, and we love helping people benefit from all of the amazing peer-to-peer companies out there.

The post A Peaceful Night In with the Sharing Economy appeared first on ParqEx.

Unfortunately, public transportation is not always exactly timely, making it necessary to leave home much earlier than would be required if personal transportation was available. This can be quite frustrating for those who are often pressed for time, and can even lead to problems at work if a person comes in late on a regular basis.

For this reason, many busy people—even those living in places with excellent public transportation systems—opt to own and drive their own vehicles rather than use the buses and trains available to them.

However, the sharing economy is making the lives of these busy people easier in a number of ways. From car sharing to ride sharing to the ability to rent affordable parking, peer-to-peer transportation options are popping up every day, and people are loving it.

Here are five nifty ways the sharing economy is helping people get around in the most affordable and efficient ways possible.

Ride Sharing

Of course, we all know about Uber and Lyft, the platforms that allow passengers to pay for someone to tote them around in much the same way a cab would. While these services are pretty cool, and are perfect for many occasions, there are also a great number of other ride-sharing programs available that many people aren’t even aware of.

Zimride, for instance, is a fabulous ride-sharing program that offers companies and universities the chance to set up carpooling opportunities for their employees and students. The system is simple to navigate and straightforward to use, and the prices make transportation affordable for everyone.

If your company is not a part of Zimride, but you would like to find a ride to work in the mornings, Commutewise is an excellent option. This site uses its very own social network to connect drivers with riders and make life easier for everyone involved.

Looking for a ride out of state? Openride is the site for you. This peer-to-peer ride-sharing website lets users request and offer long-distance rides in a friendly and safe community. This is the perfect way to make a bit of money during your next road trip, or to take that trip to see grandma for very little money.

Car Sharing

If you prefer to drive yourself from point A to point B, a car-sharing system may be more up your alley. There are a number of peer-to-peer car-sharing sites, and almost all of them are worth checking out.

Turo is one of the most popular car-sharing sites out there. This site has an enormous collection of vehicles listed for rent. These include cars, trucks, and even RVs, among other types of transportation. Vehicles are available in almost every city in the country, and some are even available for delivery.

Getaround, on the other hand, also has a huge number of cars to choose from, but they offer hourly rentals as well. This is perfect for anyone who needs a car for just a few hours while they run a specific errand, and has proven to be quite a popular option among customers.

Parking Sharing

Of course, if you do choose to rent a car and drive yourself around, convenient and affordable parking is going to be on your list of needs.

Luckily, the ParqEx parking-sharing platform is the perfect way to find parking spots in crowded places without breaking the bank. It’s easy to use and allows drivers like you to connect with those who have extra parking spots available, so you can find the best parking at the best prices in no time at all.

Interested in learning more about how the sharing economy can help you get around in your day-to-day life? The ParqEx team would love to hear from you.

The post Get Around with the Sharing Economy appeared first on ParqEx.

ParqEx is pumped to be finalist for 2016’s “50 on Fire!”

We are 1 of just 16 B-to-C companies to make the list out of hundreds of applicants!

Chicago is one of the most diversified economies in the world, with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce. And this diversity extends to the city’s innovation economy, with an eclectic mix of startups, categories, entrepreneurs, enterprise tech companies, STEM organizations, universities, and more making up the ecosystem.

50 on Fire is Chicago Inno’s annual awards show, celebrating the individuals and organizations that are heating up Chicago across a variety of industries. It is a reflection of Chicago’s ecosystem at large – a collection of people and organization in a number of different roles, stages, and categories – that are, for lack of a better term, on fire. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes an entire city to build an innovation.

ParqEx is absolutely thrilled to be one of just 16 B2C companies to be included in the prestigious list.

To read the full article, click here.

Hot spots!

Here are a few of our currently featured parking spots. Going to be in the area and need an easy place to park? Click on the spot you want. Book it. You’re a VIP.

• 5051 N Broadway: https://secure.parqex.com/parking?listingId=25498
• 2451 Howard St: https://secure.parqex.com/parking?listingId=25576
• 940 W Wilson Ave: https://secure.parqex.com/parking?listingId=25674

A ParqEx original film

Jeff & Matt: A story about the day two people became friends through parking.

Jeff & Matt were once sad. Jeff drives to the big city every day from the suburbs. Jeff gets lots of headaches figuring out where to park. Matt lives in the big city. Matt has a parking space, but doesn’t always use it.

ParqEx to the rescue! The simple ParqEx app allows Matt to rent his parking space to Jeff. Jeff doesn’t have to worry about where to park anymore. Matt makes some extra money. Jeff and Matt are now friends.

To list or find parking (and maybe a new friend), click here!

ParqEx company news bits:

ParqEx: Always expanding!
This month, Parqex signed deals with Farpoint Development and MO2 Properties.

ParqEx CEO at VentureFWD Summit
ParqEx Founder and CEO Vivek Mehra was one of an esteemed and select group of innovators and leaders to speak at the 2016 Venture for Women & Diversity Summit.

ParqEx is hiring in Chicago and Wisconsin
ParqEx is looking for leaders, including Jr. Account Executives (Sales) in both Madison and Milwaukee. See the full list of opportunities at our great company.

GAME CHANGER: ParqEx Access+

With Access+, residents and approved visitors can open the garage door from their smartphones. Garage owners can simplify management and improve control of the garage.

Interested? Learn more here!

The post In the News with ParqEx appeared first on ParqEx.

The post We are solving the urban parking problem together. appeared first on ParqEx.

There are so many restaurant connoisseurs out there. They all eat at the best restaurants in every city and usually end up writing reviews. These reviews usually include words like “Confit” to describe chicken, “Tartar” to describe finely chopped meat or fish, or “Amuse Bouche,” meaning “amuse the mouth.”

That’s all fine and dandy, but I have a different style. I’m not going to use big culinary words in this post; I’m simply going to tell you what I’ve tried and what I like. I like to eat things that taste good and I want to tell you about them so you can try them out, too. That’s the purpose of this post. This particular post will focus on restaurants in Chicago’s West Loop.

West Loop Top Grub Spots

1.) Girl & The Goat

Believe the hype; Girl & The Goat is for real. Located on the 800 block of West Randolph Street, Stephanie Izard’s food is nothing short of awesome. Specializing in small plates, Girl & The Goat just feels like a happening place right when you walk in the door. The atmosphere is great, and the food is even better. The service is top-notch  the staff is knowledgeable and the atmosphere is not too pretentious. Plus, the brains behind the operation and Executive Chef, Izard, was born in Chicago. Oh yeah, you can drink wine there, too. 

What I Ordered:

• Soft Shell Chili Crab = so good 
• Wild Striped Bass = unbelievably good 
• Goat Empanadas = you have to get them 

Izard has also opened two other restaurants in the West Loop, Little Goat Diner and Duck Duck Goat. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with any of the three. 

2.) Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Originating in Memphis, Gus’s is the best spot for fried chicken. Not the best place for a first date (lots of finger licking involved). Hit up Gus’s in the Fulton Market District for some of the best fried chicken you’ve ever had. Gus knows how crispy to make his chicken and he knows how spicy to make his chicken. The crunch to spice ratio is on point and the chicken is just about as juicy as it gets. Oh wait, don’t forget to order the fried pickles. If you like pickles, it’s a no doubter. 

Recap: 

• Gus’s Famous Fried Chicken has earned the right to call itself “famous” 
• Order white or dark meat, they’re both really damn good 
• Fried pickles = better than un-fried pickles 
• I’m not much of a sweets guy, but I’ve heard great things about their homemade pies 

3.) Nonna’s Sandwiches and Sundries

Let me tell ya, Nonna knows how to make a heavenly meatball sub. The Italian beef is really good, too. If you’re ever in the West Loop for lunch and want something fairly quick, Nonna’s is your spot. It’s a little on the pricey side for a sandwich shop ($10-$11 for a sandwich), but you get what you pay for. You won’t leave hungry. My co-worker, Dan, eats about 1-2 Nonna’s meatball subs per week. I’m thinking about adopting a similar routine. 

Postgame Analysis: 

• Great meatball sub
• Excellent lunch spot 
• Very solid Italian beef 

Little tip: get the hot giardiniera on your meatball sub!

4.) Au Cheval

If you’re lucky enough to get into Au Cheval without having to wait hours for a table, don’t pass up on the opportunity; it’s as good a restaurant as advertised. I ordered the double burger with a fried egg and bacon. The bacon was extremely thick and tasty, and the fried egg was an excellent addition to the juicy, perfectly cooked burger. Au Cheval also has a great selection of specialty cocktails. It’s a perfect place for a date or a good time with your pals. Expect to spend some money, especially if you’re planning on drinking. There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC4ADeN0IM0

5.) Glazed and Infused (Doughnuts)

Technically not a restaurant, but still food. Good food. Desert. Sorry, my sentences are getting shorter and shorter because I am now drooling. There isn’t much to say about Glazed and Infused except that they make awesome doughnuts. After eating at one of the four spots above, infuse yourself with some glaze-y goodness. Try anything because they’re all good. 

West Loop Parking sucks. So if you are in fact heading down to Chicago’s hottest neighborhood, make sure you rent parking in advance using ParqEx. Simply download the ParqEx app on the App Store or Google Play or sign up on the ParqEx website. ParqEx is a peer to peer parking technology platform. Simply rent parking Chicago or list parking Chicago to make your parking experience a lot easier, and better.

About ParqEx:

ParqEx is a technology company that connects owners of private parking spots to people looking for parking. In urban areas where parking demand is high but available options are scarce or expensive, ParqEx makes additional supply available to the driving public by listing exclusive inventory owned by local residents and businesses.

Using ParqEx, parking owners are able to make some supplemental income from an underutilized asset while renters get access to exclusive inventory in more convenient and hard-to-park locations. The ParqEx support team ensures that the entire process of listing, reserving, parking, and paying is as smooth as possible for all involved.

ParqEx has also developed the revolutionary Access+ Technology. With Access+, residents and approved visitors can open the garage door from their smartphones. Property managers and condo boards can simplify management and improve control of the garage.

Don’t have our parking app yet? Get it now @ParqEx on the App Store and Google Play!

Watch our short video to see the beauty of the ParqEx app!

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