Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The new ‘HandyPark’ app received its presentation in Antwerp. The app functions to stop individuals with disabilities from getting unwarranted parking tickets. The creation of HandyPark happened through a partnership between Antwerp City plus organisations such as the VVSG.
Antwerp, alongside other Belgian cities, now confronts an escalating number of complaints from disabled community members about improper parking tickets.
Traditional disabled parking permit cards placed on dashboard surfaces were frequently undetected by automated scanning law enforcement vehicles conducting parking enforcement duties, as reported by VRT.
Automatic license plate recognition systems that detect permits have demonstrated frequent failures to read the permits, thus resulting in unfair penalties. Many disability rights organisations reported that people endured prolonged administrative procedures when they challenged wrongful parking fines that brought needless stress upon them.
That sometimes leads to frustration.
“You can always dispute those fines, but that often involves an administrative hassle. This app solves that easily,”
Says Minister Rob Beenders (Vooruit).
The app is very easy to use.
“The app was developed in consultation with people with disabilities. It is very easy to use, and it also prevents unjustified fines,”
Says Van Gils.
“The app also gives control to the person with a disability,”
He says.
“I can set which car I ride with and how long that car has a parking right. In the past, you had to register each car separately with the municipality, but if you always have to ride with people, that’s a lot of administration.”
The app also ensures that people with disabilities do not have to justify themselves.
“In the past, I sometimes had to convince officers of my disability, which is always painful,”
Says Van Gils.
The app also helps prevent abuse.
“The app works with Itsme. Everyone who has it is, therefore, entitled to it. An old-fashioned parking card could sometimes be passed on or copied,”
Says Guido, who helped develop the app.
What is the background behind Antwerp’s ‘Handypark’ app?
The “HandyPark” app is a mobile parking solution developed by A1 Telekom Austria AG, designed to simplify parking management for users by allowing them to book parking tickets, receive reminders before expiration, and keep track of parking history.
The application lets users view parking system updates beforehand and enables them to save multiple plates and use CarFinder capabilities to trace parked cars. Through its business solutions, the application presents capabilities that allow organisations to handle their collective parking costs.
The digital parking solution started in Austria, especially Vienna, and demonstrates the modernisation of parking service management through digital platforms, which improve user experience. There is no specific information indicating that HandyPark was developed specifically for Antwerp or Belgium, suggesting that Antwerp’s “HandyPark” app might be a local adaptation or a different service inspired by a similar digital parking solution.
