Drivers and Parking Space Owners Rejoice as Parking Panda Launches in D.C.

Parking Panda Makes Parking Easy and Affordable, Profitable for Space Owners

Parking in the District just got a lot easier, and more profitable for people who own parking spaces, as Parking Panda, a community marketplace for parking, launched its services today in Washington, D.C.

Parking Panda allows parking space owners to capitalize on their underutilized parking spaces by renting them out to a community of drivers who need spots. D.C. residents or visitors in need of parking can use Parking Panda to save money and time by booking a parking space in advance on the web or through their mobile phone.

"A city resident myself, I know that finding available parking can be maddening, expensive, and sometimes almost impossible," said Nick Miller, CEO of Parking Panda. "Parking Panda takes the hassle and expense out of searching for a parking spot. Parking in D.C. will no longer be such a time-consuming, daunting task because people can reserve spots ahead of time and for less money."

For its launch in D.C., Parking Panda is partnering with two garage companies, PMI and Central Parking. Users will be able to reserve a spot in the local garages at a reduced rate, resulting in peace of mind, and an overall more efficient parking experience. D.C. parking spot and driveway owners can also now begin listing their available spaces. When someone has booked a space, Parking Panda sends the owner an email alert with the sale information. Then the owner can sit back, relax, and wait for the check to come in the mail.

Parking Panda users can find available parking spots using the Parking Panda website, either from a web browser or a mobile phone web browser. If searching from a mobile phone, the site will use the user's location to automatically find nearby available parking, or users can enter a location to search. Users can see photos of spaces, and even pay for the spaces directly from their mobile phones.

Parking Panda also helps people avoid getting tickets by allowing them to park in fully legal spaces and avoid parking illegally or having to remember to pay parking meters. According to an article from The Washington Post, D.C. set a record in 2011 by collecting $92.6 million in parking citations. Already in 2012, D.C. has taken in over $31 million in parking fines. Parking with the Panda will save users the hassle of paying parking fines.

"Knowing that a parking space is ready and waiting for you when you get there, and that it's fully legal, puts your mind at ease," said Miller. "Whether you're a daily commuter, or you're heading into the city to see a friend or attend an event, Parking Panda will help you park happy."

Washington, D.C., is the second city in the country to receive Parking Panda, and the company plans to expand to other major metropolises.

About Parking Panda

Parking Panda is a rapidly growing startup founded during Startup Weekend in Baltimore in April 2011. With three full-time employees and three interns, Parking Panda has grown significantly over the past year thanks to help from some of its investors including Baltimore Angels, Fabrice Grinda, Jose Marin, Neil Kataria, among others. Parking Panda is currently available via computer and your HTML 5 enabled mobile browser on their website, with native applications for iOS and Android coming soon.