nThe UK’s Department for Transport has invested heavily in creating the ‘National Parking Platform’ to address the issue of drivers downloading too many parking apps. However, this initiative has not simplified matters; instead, it has made a straightforward public service unnecessarily complex. What drivers truly need is not a multi-layered interoperable system, but a government app that can be used nationwide. Rather than establishing a massive platform for private companies to manage, the government should develop it themselves. This is not only technically feasible but also prevents the privatization of public resources once again.n
nCurrently, local governments do not develop their own parking apps but outsource this to private companies. These companies charge a ‘convenience fee’ for each transaction and profit from advertising and data analytics. The cost of this so-called ‘convenience’ is that drivers end up paying more while helping the government save on costs. Electronic payments have already reduced the costs of maintaining coin machines, handling cash, and printing tickets for local governments, which should make parking cheaper. Instead, users bear an additional burden. This inverted logic completely contradicts the principles of public service.n
nEven more absurd is that the Department for Transport has not tightened control over this outsourcing chaos but has instead created a ‘platform’ to unify intermediaries. The government funds the system’s construction and then transfers operational rights to non-profit organizations or private companies. Local governments become clients of the platform, and drivers become fee-paying subjects. Public parking is fragmented into a chargeable business, and public data is turned into a potential asset. This so-called ‘innovation’ is essentially an experiment in excessive privatization, where taxpayers fund the infrastructure while companies collect the rent.n
nIf the government genuinely wants to make parking more convenient, there is no need to take such a convoluted route. Developing a nationwide government app is no more challenging technically than building a national platform. The functionality for parking payments is already mature: entering a license plate, selecting a time slot, electronic payment, and notification reminders are all readily available technologies. Local governments only need to connect their backend systems and policies, allowing the entire nation to use a single app. Drivers would only need to download it once to use it anywhere, with clear accountability, public ownership of data, and transparent fee structures, truly benefiting the public.n
nSuch a model would better leverage economies of scale. With council car parks and street parking combined, the government is already the largest provider of parking spaces nationwide. If the entire country used the same app, the government could negotiate lower payment processing fees through centralized bargaining and share maintenance costs. The average cost per transaction would decrease, while system security and user experience would improve. This is true efficiency, relying on public unification rather than platform commissions.n
nOver 70% of drivers have encountered difficulties using existing parking apps, from unstable signals to system crashes. These problems are not due to a lack of platforms but because there are too many. If the government truly cares about the public, it should reduce the layers of intermediaries and return parking to simplicity. Drivers do not care which company operates behind the scenes; they just want to park easily anywhere without being charged ridiculous ‘convenience fees’.n
nPublic parking is a public resource and should not be packaged as a stage for corporate innovation. The government’s responsibility is to provide reliable, low-cost, and transparent services, not to let private enterprises hitch a ride. Launching a nationwide official app is not only feasible but also common sense. After all, it’s just a parking app—how hard can it be?n
