December 5, 2014
Apps to Ease Your Parking Woes in New York City and San Francisco
Just when you thought you’ve downloaded every mobile app imaginable, another “must-have” app is released to answer your prayers. Enter Luxe, an on demand parking and valet service which takes the hassle and headache out of circling around the block, frantically looking for a parking space.
Luxe, only offered in San Francisco, charges $5 an hour or a maximum of $15 a day. The company also offers extras like car cleanings for $40 and a gas fill-up for $7.99. And, the company offers $1 million in general insurance liability to cover the cost of damage. Take note, they are not responsible for theft.
Here’s how Luxe works: Before you leave your house, input your final destination. The GPS feature tracks you as you make your way to your destination, and about 10 minutes before you get there, it matches you with a Luxe valet attendant– who just may show up on foot, skateboard or scooter. The attendant, wearing a blue jacket bearing the Luxe logo, greets you by your name, picks up your car and parks it in a lot any where in the city of San Francisco that Luxe has an agreement with. About 15 minutes before you’re ready to leave your destination, use the app to alert the attendant and your car will be returned wherever you are.
According to Business Insider, Luxe founder Curtis Lee, experienced his aha moment while he was running late for a dinner reservation looking for a parking spot in San Francisco – a city notorious for its lack of parking.Lee was so angry, he started sketching out early ideas for the company right there at the restaurant.
Although Luxe is only available in San Francisco, the founders have plans to expand. In the meantime New York City drivers can check out ValetAnywhere which charges that charges $6 an hour or up to $42 a day. Similar to the Luxe app, your car is parked in one of their long-term garages, covered by a 2 million insurance policy, and you can check on your car status at any time.