A bunch of genius’s from San Francisco have put dudes (and dudettes) on skateboards and scooters and are offering valet services that come to you. Given just half an hour’s notice – speedy attendants kitted out with snazzy blue jackets pick up your car and let you get on with things while they take over the parking responsibilities. Oh, and don’t worry, the valets are verifiable via the in-app headshot, next to the tip button…
Luxe, the San Francisco based company founded in 2013, now available in five cities across the US and branching out as I write, appreciate that not all drivers are comfortable with the pressures of parking in big cities. "We realize there are folks here who don't drive every day and may not park near their home," said Pooja Dhargalkar, Luxe's general manager for New York. "They'll never have to set foot in a parking lot."
Luxe launched their New York operations yesterday, and will soon offer long term parking options.
The trick to it seems to be a below-market rate lease agreement with national and regional parking facilities across the US. "Our valets never have to find a parking space on their own, never have to park on the street and are always guided by the app," Ms. Dhargalkar said. "These are spaces that really aren't getting traction, and the parking-lot operators see a huge benefit in getting traffic into their lot. That's the key to making it all work."
And, there’s no shortage of competition: we’ve got Valet Anywhere and Zirx vying for prime position in the mobile valet industry. How will they get around? Hoverboards? Horseback?
Read the full article here.
Now, is this a real solution to inner city off- and on-street parking issues? Or are skateboards and scooters just cluttering up the sidewalks? Over to you…
