BethPH

AppyParking: An App To Help You Find A Space In London

The Byzantine parking regulations across London's boroughs have left many a driver scratching their head and often sporting a PCN on their windscreen. AppyParking aims to change all that. It's a new app to help you find a parking space, so long as you've got an iPhone.

This easy-to-use app shows where parking is free or metered, single yellow lines and disabled spaces using clear red/green colour coding. If you joined the electric vehicle revolution, you can also find charging bays. The cheapest petrol stations are also indicated, for those of us still using petrol power. Thanks to a partnership with parkatmyhouse.com, if all else fails you can try someone's driveway.

A StreetView option allows drivers to see their potential parking spot ahead of arrival. The man behind AppyParking (previously known as Yellow Line Parking), Dan Hubert, explains the reasoning behind the mammoth task of documenting London's parking restrictions:

"Basically it all started when I was trying to park outside the Royal Albert Hall to go to a gig. Every parking space was taken and not one car was parked on the single yellow right outside the venue. I asked a passing traffic warden what the deal was. He said they are restricted by Controlled Parking Zone signs positioned a few roads down and that I could park on single yellows after 6.30pm. I then went on a mission to try and find out these Zone maps online. No digital file was available so I ended up personally drawing over 1,600 zones across London from old PDF's. Sad but true! The idea then grew as I realised there was not one place or app for people to turn to to find about a destination of a journey."

Coverage is excellent, with all London CPZs included (except Havering, Bexley and Barking) — you can see a demo on the website. Download the app for Apple devices here.