ParkRTC Reviews

Don't understand why it requires a PIN and zone number, when it already has your plate number.

Seems like a better system would be to just have a number for each spot, then they wouldn't have to collect plate numbers at all. The data collection and sharing permitted by ParkRTC goes beyond what is necessary to operate the service. This is mentioned in the privacy policy on the this app site in opaque terms but it's deceptive to not mention it here. Creepy factor is high versus a normal parking system that isn't collecting personal data.

Not sure of the reason to require prepayment of parking time instead of paying for time used when you leave -- very unfriendly compared to a normal garage especially given the number of enforcement carts trolling the garages. Took me 5 attempts to connect to the service and about 10 minutes total just to pay $2 for parking. That was even after taking the time to install ParkRTC and set up an account in advance. I just want to be able to go to my meeting and pay for parking when I leave, not play virtual meter feeding games with a timer counting down!

No idea why they didn't use a reusable, recognized app like ParkMobile that DC people already use. Normal machines with arms that swipe a credit card on the way out would also be lots easier.

I really like how easy ParkRTC works. But the fee structure is not friendly. ParkRTC forces you to pay for a minimum of one hour at $3. What if you only need 30 mins? 15 mins? You guessed it, $3. I realized this recently when I dropped my phone off at the Apple store. Had an appointment so it took 10 mins. I had to pay $3 for 10 mins. Why not charge in 15 min increments? Also, unlike physical parking meters, when I left after 10 mins, the next person did not get to use the balance of time I left - 50 mins. Someone on the back end of ParkRTC is pocketing a lot of coin at our expense by using this fee structure! I’m all for reasonable profits, but this is egregious and gratuitous!

ParkRTC implements what is known as a “dark pattern” where it hides the fact that a free on hour option is available. This information is not displayed at the time of making your reservation, and makes it easiest to click “Daily Maximum (8.00)”. Many people likely choose this option instead of navigating to choose a one hour session, which still has no indication of it being free until after selection.

I set up my account, added my vehicle and made a pin. All I need to do is log in with my pin. If the place I’m visiting validates parking I ask when I walk in before I pay. If not I can pay from wherever I am as long as I remember the zone.

Easy to use app, sign in, add car info, pay and your done. Even gives you a timer with notifications on how much time you have left!

Boston Properties (the property manager) of Reston Towncenter are making terrible decisions including using ParkRTC and the parking process they put in place. ParkRTC requires you to put money in up front even though merchants validate and it varies by zone. Visitors are confused by it and this area has a lot of shopping and dining choices - why bother with this parking stupidity at RTC.

They are out of touch and are driving both merchants and customers away. They should take a clue from Tysons Corner - parking should be free!

Compared to Park Mobile and Mobile Now parking app, ParkRTC is most intuitive and works flawlessly. As far as paying for parking in Reston, cheap people like to complain when they don't get stuff for free!

Requires a card for then getting validated parking? What the hell? Dumbest app ever and worst business decision by Reston Town Center. If I were any of the restaurants here I'd get out of my contract immediately for sue the town center for implementing this required parking crap. Unfortunately I had to come to RTC for a quick 5 minutes stop at the Apple Store, but couldn't pay less than 1 hour or $3 for parking. Literally the joke of Reston.

Signs at the parking said to remember you license plate (which I did) and start a session in 15 minutes (which I could not because I didn't know the zone). Why not say to remember your zone and license plate number? Lastly, since I wasn't going to be there for more than an hour, why do you need my credit card information to "start a session"?

This is the kind of experience that would deter me from going to eat at Reston. $3 per hour limited to paying full hours max 2 hours. Enforced 24/7 unacceptable! Validation is not offered by the restaurants I like. You can’t even pay for fractions of an hour. I’ll go to merifield, Tyson’s, or fairfax next time!

I’m amazed at the level of conceit and arrogance that makes someone think that their tiny little mediocre shopping requires its own unique app to do something that the entire rest of the region already does with a much better app. This one has the look, feel, and overall implementation of a middle school “fun with basic coding” class project. Shame, Reston. Shame.

And that’s all I want from a parking payment app. Works way better than the original.

Add apple pay. Allow auto-fill when updating credit card info. Consider allowing sign-in with apple. Stop making things more difficult for users.

I have used ParkRTC about a dozen times. It’s easy to use and does what it needs to do quite effectively.

This issue horrible way to handle parking. Pre guessing stay length and serious price increase for the lunch I have to go to. Hate RTC now.

Update: And ParkRTC has made parking harder & walking riskier since there is one of those ticketing golf-carts stopped in every level and you have to drive or walk around while cars are coming down the other direction.

If I was the idiot who wrote ParkRTC I would write a good review and ask for more feature$ like Apple Pay added to it.

Update:

So, while I sit here and wait for it to re-download it remind me how hard I avoid RTC because of this stupid app.

There are several great parking apps for use. This isn’t one of them. The UI is pathetic, the steps required to enable a set-up requires the user to navigate through microscopic font, the editing of a vehicle doesn’t work, etc.

It’s bad enough that ParkRTC exists. To be forced to use it is even worse.

Well looks like I will go to Tyson's instead of reston town center. You want to charge for parking that was always planned to be free. I have been coming to rtc for over 25 years and find this sudden change shocking.

Way to drive people away. You may make some more money but at the cost of some of your tenants.

Should be 0 stars

This is a fantastic application and it’s very simple to use so keep up the good work

Could we have a more invasive way to pay for parking that should be free? Couldn't we just get a ticket when we come in and pay when we leave? Apparently not. Bad idea gone wrong. I'd give zero stars but one is the minimum. To bad we can't do negative stars.

Such a simple app fails in such a spectacularly simple way. As Rich pointed out, upon install, whether notifications are allowed or not, a big fat white screen follows. Who knows how reliable the rest of this parking system will be, not to mention how well it's security features will be. Back to the drawing board Boston Properties.

RTC parking use to be free. Now it has this cumbersome pay for parking system that has caused local businesses to pack up and leave. Your parking system and your app are intrusive, unintuitive, and they don't even work correctly. One of the primary functions is counting parking spaces and you can't even do that right. Whoever thought this would be a great idea should be fired and then publicly shamed by local investigative reporters. I hope your company goes out of business, then maybe your app developers can do something besides sitting writing fake positive reviews about their own product. Literally nobody likes this.