By: Ellisyn Sanders

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The University of Arkansas switched to ParkMobile for campus parking on Feb. 28, replacing the Flowbird system. University officials say the change is meant to improve convenience and create a smoother experience for drivers on campus.

Drivers can now pay in 15-minute increments while keeping the same $2.15 hourly rate. Under the previous system, users could only pay in hourly blocks. Students, faculty, staff and visitors can use the ParkMobile app or pay through the text-to-pay option.

“One of the main benefits is that we are aligning with the same system that the City of Fayetteville uses,” said Drew Watzke, communications manager for transit and parking.

Watzke said the added flexibility allows drivers to pay only for the time they need instead of rounding up to the next hour. “ParkMobile offers more customizable time increments (every 15 minutes) than Flowbird offered (every hour). Plus, the app is easier to use and provides a seamless parking experience for customers,” he said.

He said drivers must enter their vehicle information before completing a payment and should turn on location services to help the app identify where they are parked. “Text-to-pay is also a good option for those who do not have a smartphone or are experiencing internet issues,” Watzke said.

The switch is also connected to the university’s broader efforts to improve campus parking. “Upgrading our pay-to-park app will hopefully give those who are doing their part an even better experience when parking on campus,” Watzke said.

Students said they are excited about the change and believe the new system is easier to use and more reliable than Flowbird. Some seniors said they wished they could use the app longer before graduating.

The move to ParkMobile is part of the university’s “Ride the Vibe” campaign, which focuses on improving parking services and educating students, faculty and staff about how Transit and Parking works on campus.

University officials expect the new system to improve convenience and make parking more efficient for the campus community.