Parking Perspectives

Often described as “the Airbnb of parking,” Parker is transforming parking from a rigid, inefficient system into a people-powered marketplace. Instead of building more massive parking structures or covering communities in more concrete, Parker unlocks the parking spaces that already exist. The concept is simple. The impact is much bigger.

Most people don’t think of their driveway or unused office parking space as an asset. It’s just there. Empty during the workday. Unused on evenings or weekends. Part of the property, but not something that actively creates value. That’s starting to change. Shared parking platforms like Parker are turning those overlooked spaces into a simple, reliable source of extra income. Not theoretical value. Real cash. And for many, it’s covering meaningful expenses that would otherwise

In most cities, parking is treated as a logistics problem. Large corporations focus on scale, efficiency, and volume. The goal is simple. Move more cars through more spaces, as predictably as possible. But parking is not just logistics. It’s local. It’s tied to neighbourhoods, small businesses, and everyday routines. And that’s where smaller, startup-driven parking platforms are starting to outperform the big players. They’re not trying to dominate the system. They’re trying

Parking has quietly become one of the most frustrating parts of daily life in busy communities. Whether it’s circling the block, overpaying for a garage, or worrying about time limits, the experience is often inefficient and stressful. But there’s a better way to approach it. Shared parking flips the model. Instead of relying only on centralized lots and garages, it opens the door for individuals and businesses to offer their unused spaces to others. The result is a more flex

Uber’s latest move into parking signals something bigger than convenience. It signals control. The company recently announced its acquisition of SpotHero, a platform that allows drivers to reserve parking spots across thousands of locations in North America. The goal is simple. Bring parking into the Uber ecosystem and make it one more button inside a growing “super app.”

Every month, many Parker hosts are seeing an extra $500 or more flow into their lives. And while $500 may not seem like a fortune, it’s powerful when you realize what it represents: possibilities.

For decades, the way people parked their cars barely changed. You drove to your destination, circled the block a few times, hoped to spot an open space, and—if luck was on your side—squeezed into something nearby. If not, frustration (and often a hefty parking fee) became part of the experience.

In cities across North America, bike lanes have become a hot topic. Advocates say they reduce traffic, improve safety, and create greener, more livable streets. Critics often counter that bike lanes take away valuable road space and, in many cases, reduce the amount of on-street parking available to residents, businesses, and visitors.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve been exploring one of the most overlooked — yet most frustrating — aspects of urban life: parking. From circling crowded city blocks to underused driveways sitting empty, parking represents both a daily challenge and a tremendous opportunity.

If you’ve ever driven into downtown Toronto—or honestly, any major city—you already know: parking sucks. It’s expensive, it’s stressful, and it eats up far more of your time (and sanity) than it should. And while Toronto is one of the worst offenders, the truth is that parking headaches are a shared experience across big cities and even their suburbs.

Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: parking spaces. You see them everywhere—vast lots, half-empty garages. But what if those spaces, instead of being dead weight, could be part of the solution? Shared parking has the potential to help not just drivers, but all of us—housing, affordability, climate, walk ability. At Parker, we believe that smarter parking can mean a smarter city.

Parking isn’t just a convenience—it shapes how our cities grow, how affordable housing gets built, how people move, and how livable places are. Shared parking can be a powerful tool to solve multiple urban problems at once. Let’s explore why parking is such a big deal—and how Parker’s shared-parking model can make positive change.

Take a moment to think about the assets you own. Your car, your driveway, maybe even a set of power tools in your garage. They’re all useful, yes—but how often are they actually used? The answer might surprise you.

Radius parking is a simple concept with big potential. Instead of driving all the way into the busiest, most congested part of the city, drivers stop a few kilometres out—often in quieter residential or mixed-use neighbourhoods. From there, they switch to another mode of transportation for the “last mile” (or in this case, last 5 kilometres). It’s a smarter way to use your car, your time, and your money.

On a quiet residential street in Toronto, Mark used to glance at the unused strip of pavement beside his driveway and think nothing of it. It was just there—a patch of concrete collecting leaves. Across town, Sarah, who runs a small café, had three parking spaces behind her shop that sat empty every weekday after 5 p.m. For both of them, those spaces didn’t seem valuable—until they discovered Parker.

Over the past five years, the sharing economy has transformed how we live, work, and move through our cities. What began with ride-hailing and home-sharing platforms has expanded into nearly every corner of daily life, offering convenience, flexibility, and efficiency. Canadians now see shared access—not sole ownership—as a smarter way to make better use of limited resources.

In many dense urban neighbourhoods, there’s a persistent tension: on‐street parking is overfull and congested, while off‐street parking in nearby residential buildings often has large amounts of empty capacity.

When Airbnb launched, it changed how people thought about travel accommodations. Suddenly, unused guest rooms, basements, and vacation homes became income-generating assets. Now, the same shift is happening with parking — and Parker is leading the way.