While much of the US population continues to shelter in place in the wake of COVID-19, some journeys and destinations remain essential—and so does parking. That’s why SpotHero is providing discounted parking near hospitals in some of the largest cities in the US for frontline workers, medical personnel, first responders and patients. People making these essential drives can use the SpotHero app to locate and book discounted parking, then plan their drive with Waze.
Parking with SpotHero’s discounted rates can be found directly in the Waze app as well by searching keywords like, “parking near me” or “hospital parking.” The Waze app can also be used to find the latest resources and information about road closures, medical testing sites, hospitals, and food distribution locations.
This collaboration is the latest in a series of partnerships that unites navigation and parking. Last year, SpotHero and Waze worked together to allow SpotHero users to “Navigate with Waze,” allowing drivers to book parking on SpotHero and then navigate directly to their parking facility. Upon arrival, a single tap on the Waze map pulls up the SpotHero parking pass to access the garage, making switching back and forth between apps seamless and keeping drivers’ attention where it belongs: on the road.
In 2018, SpotHero and Waze joined forces to help improve traffic in the City of Chicago. The companies wanted to help drivers navigate seamlessly along five miles of Chicago’s multi-level streets, where GPS services would often lose reception, hindering the driver’s ability to navigate to their destination and underground parking facilities. The signal blackouts not only created driver confusion, but could lead to traffic accidents. The City of Chicago, SpotHero and Waze installed 450 Waze Beacons along Lower Wacker Drive, Lower Lower Wacker Drive, Lower Columbus Drive, Lower Michigan Avenue, and other nearby locations. The Beacons emit a Bluetooth signal that can aid navigation apps like Waze, and are available for use by all developers looking to make it easier and safer for people navigating to get through tunnels and underground roads.
We’re glad to do our part to make parking more accessible to those who need it most during these trying times.