Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

I hope they never have app parking around here, I'd have to stay at home. I couldn't use the buses because they are almost non-existent these days.

 

I think all carparkng around here uses apps, most do still have machines as well, but they don't always work or are actually more complicated than using an app.

 

The car park is free in this village and others near by. In the local town a few miles away I always park on the road. It's only a short walk to the shops (such as they are)
For some time now I've gone to further away places on the bus, but I'll have to drive now because the buses are useless. I hope the buses will improve soon, the Welsh government has plans for them. I won't have to worry about car parking then .

 

I don’t have a smartphone, and no plans to get one. The parking machines in the towns round here still take cash or cards, as well as ?Ringgo for people with the right phones. There is a very large population of very vocal older people round here, who have made strong protestations about not having the choice to pay with cash or cards. Long may that continue.
Lots of single track with passing places round here, some officially marked, some just field entrances, or dirt lay-bys. All the locals know where they are, and there seems to be an unofficial understanding on who is best placed to give way. It does get messed up when people unfamiliar with the area sail past the most convenient stop, and then find themselves having to back up. And occasionally, one will park in the passing place to go for a walk!

 

Yes, I do agree there should be a universal car parking app, the current transport ministry even said last year that this will happen sooner rather than later.

My Mrs download an app when we went to Skegness in September 2022, we were charged an extra 99p transaction fee, which was in their terms and conditions, but who is going to check them out.

There is now a sign outside our local Morrisons entrance warning that parking if free for 2 hours, however if you download the app you can stay longer. I was told there is a £1.50 transaction fee, very sneaky when that is not shown prior to clicking, pay.

We went to Lincoln for the truck fest and to see our daughter for the day on Sunday. After the show we went into Lincoln for an evening meal before heading back. I only wanted to park for 2 hours max, you could not pay by cash as it was locked, so you could only pay by card, minimum payment was £4.50 and was for 12 hours. As it was not a machine that you have to enter your registration, I gave the ticket to someone else on departure.

There are pro's and con's of going down the app route, for me the con's outnumber them.

Universal “Cashless” UK Parking App to Allow the Imposition of a New Stealth Tax on Motorists? |

 

I finally got a parking app. for Sheffield [ my wife sorted all the info, I can barely use the phone to make calls ], and yes, it is more expensive, but it saves me having to find change, and there are many more places I can park.

 

The main thing I like about apps is you can add time should you take longer than expected.

 

And me! Had a 22 yr old Nokia, but the battery finally gave up charging so I have moved to a Doro. No apps, no internet. You can make calls, write texts, and use its torch. Perfect!

I agree, @gks, the cons of parking apps outweigh the pros for customers. My Homebase has just put up incomprehensible signage re parking and apps. I asked a member of staff for a translation. You get a couple of hrs free, but I think you still have to clock in with the app when you arrive. I couldn't get a definitive answer on that.

 

There's an article in the news today about the new biometric thing they're putting in to track people coming into or leaving the EU.

Apparently in a survey a lot of Brits are upset about it and are thinking of not going abroad because of it.

That's great news. It means places will be less busy for when I go.

But I'm not sure this is a moan or not, but it cringes me how odd some people are. A significant percentage of the respondents were not happy with their details being held on a system for three years. Well, if that's how they feel, I dread to think how they'll feel when they remember that their passport lasts ten years, and even if it expires, the details are still 'in a system', so that you can easily renew later.

 

I'm told the Brits voted Brexit largely to protect their borders. Can't blame the EU for being ahead of the game in protecting its borders and movement of foreigners within them.

 

I'm sure google knows more about me that my passport contains.

 

Its a bit of a pity the EU doesn't tighten up its eastern borders.