With Google Maps, you can now pay for parking and public transport without leaving the app

by

From Wednesday, users can use their Google GOOG Maps accounts with their Google Pay wallet and make transportation-related payments without ever leaving the app. Bypassing parking meters and train ticket machines, people can save time and also avoid touching public surfaces – a plus during the pandemic.
The new features are just the latest update to Google Maps, which aims to become more than just a place to find directions. In December, for example, Google added the ability for verified businesses to message customers directly through the app, as more businesses rely on digital interactions to drive sales. The app also added a feature in September that shows how widespread the coronavirus is in a particular area.
“From booking an online yoga class to ordering takeout meals from your favorite restaurant, Google Maps is a powerful tool that lets you complete tasks throughout the day,” the company said in a blog post on Wednesday.

For parking, the company is working with two technical providers – Passport and ParkMobile – who will link Google Maps to parking meters on the street. When people use Google Maps to navigate to a destination, the app automatically asks them to “pay for parking.” They can then enter their meter number, the amount of time they want to park and click “pay”.

New features in Google Maps allow users to pay for parking and public transport directly from the app.

With the new paid parking feature, users can also remotely extend the time on their parking meter.

For users who rely on public transportation, Google says it will increase the ability to pay for public transportation through the app: it will now connect to more than 80 transportation companies around the world. As users plan their trip, Google Maps shows them how to pay for their trip and allows them to do it in advance with a credit or debit card stored in their Google Pay wallet. That way, when they arrive at the station, they can be on the go without having to pull out their wallets or switch to another app.

“Once you buy your fare, all you have to do is tap your phone on the reader or show your digital ticket on board,” Google said.

While many people still spend a lot of time at home because of the pandemic, these features are likely to come in handy as more people are vaccinated and the reopening continues.

Source