Passport Parking Usability Study

Defining the problem:

Contextual interviews uncovered:

• Frustration and confusion identifying the parking zone number
   

• Ability to be notified when parking was nearing expiration – iPhone only
   

• Desire to quickly and efficiently pay for parking without needing to leave the vehicle or take out a credit card

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Ideation using mind mapping:

• Paint the zone number on the curb
   

• Change zone from a number to a name, like neighborhood
   

• Eliminate need for zone by making street parking free – implement a tax on plate registration for Twin Cities metro residents
   

• Extend parking with “one touch” notification – “Your parking will expire in 10 minutes. Would you like to extend? Yes or No”
   

• Use geolocation on the phone to identify location
   

• Add a map with zones identified in some way - color or number

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What worked with users during feedback session:

• Liked the geolocation idea but weren’t dazzled
   

• No resistance to sharing their location
   

• Really liked the parking zone shown on the post

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What didn't work with users during feedback session:

• Including a map on the find my location screen
   

• Success and error messaging
   

• Placement of instructions

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Recommended actions:

• Work with the city to determine if zone stickers could be added to parking post

  • Determine cost effectiveness
     

• Larger and shorter error messaging, move instructions to the screen that requires the task
   

• Option for manual zone entry if user chooses not to share their location
   

• More research on the geolocation, test this concept more broadly

  • If this does move forward, revisit the find my location screen

  • Auto-find their location on load, add a button on top of the map to trigger the location search

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