New App Aims To Simplify The Philadelphia Parking Process

By Greg Argos

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia is known for many things. Easy parking is not one of them.

However, Lauren Ancona is making your battle to find a parking spot a little easier. A few years ago, while moving, she created a map of all the residential parking zones when she couldn't find one online. She shared the link to Twitter.

"Over the weekend, about 17,000 views came into that map," Ancona said.

Knowing there was a need, she created Parkadelphia.

It's a web based application that allows users to see in depth parking rules on almost any street in Philadelphia. "You can search for regulations before you're going somewhere or you can search for regulations where are you," Ancona explained.

The data for the project comes from public city and parking authority information.

"We're trying to connect folks who want the data with the folks who have the data and they get to do all the work," said Tim Wisniewski, Philadelphia's Chief Data Officer.

He was so impressed with the project, that Ancona is now working on his team.

"We asked her would you like to do this with more departments," said Wisniewski.

While doing so, Ancona is still updating Parkadelphia, hoping to help you avoid a ticket.

"You can geo-locate yourself and get directions anywhere and you can call someone to pick you up and take you somewhere else," Ancona said. "Why can't you just press a button and say is it OK right here, where I'm standing, to park right now?"

Ancona added that she never intends to charge for Parkadelphia.