Flypass and Gopass enable digital payment for paid parking zones in Bogotá.

Starting May 20, Bogotá's Paid Parking Zones (PZZs) will be available for payment through the Flypass and Gopass mobile apps, in a bid to digitalize street parking management. This initiative is the result of partnerships between the Bogotá Transport Terminal and both technology platforms, with the goal of providing agile solutions for drivers in the capital .

You can see: 'Repairing Bogotá's road network would cost $10.5 billion and would involve four municipalities': IDU

Flypass, which began operations in 2008 as the first interoperable electronic toll service in Medellín, announced that it has enabled payment for all 8,712 regulated on-street parking spaces in Bogotá. With this integration, users will be able to "pay for on-street parking in Bogotá and Medellín, more than 163 toll booths in Colombia, and multiple parking spaces in shopping centers, traditional parking lots, car washes, and gas stations," according to a company statement.

“We're always thinking about how to improve mobility for people, which is why, through self-managed ZPP payment with the Flypass app, users can easily register their parking, extend their stay if needed, and have complete control over their time in these public spaces,” said Juan Camilo Henao, CEO of Flypass.

The Flypass app allows users to locate available parking spaces in the ZPP (ZPP), manage their own payments, and extend their stay from their mobile phone. It also allows users to avoid penalties such as parking fines, which range between 90,000 and 120,000 pesos. "The fact that people in the capital can manage their own parking is synonymous with progress, especially because it allows them greater control over their expenses and time," Henao explained.

Also see: How fast will the Bogotá Metro go and how long will it be?

The Bogotá Transport Terminal also signed a partnership with Gopass, a Colombian mobility superapp that now integrates ZPP payment into its platform. According to Rafael González, the company's manager, "as a company capable of structuring and operating mobility solutions for Bogotá and the region, we continue to seek technological partners that will allow us to strengthen our digital ecosystem and provide tools that facilitate the use of Paid Parking Zones."

Currently, the ZPPs offer more than 9,000 parking spaces distributed across 13 locations in the city and have contributed to the recovery of more than 71 kilometers of public space. González also noted that "we recently surpassed six million uses, and thanks to the continuous improvement of our digital ecosystem, we have achieved that more than half of the uses in the ZPP are made through our ZPP Bogotá app." The Gopass app will allow users to pay for street parking with the same payment method already linked to their account. According to Jorge Miguel Camacho, CEO and co-founder of Gopass, "at Gopass, we seek to use our product offering to break down the barriers that limit and waste people's time in terms of mobility."

Camacho explained that "the integration of this service into our app is aligned with this intention, and now we can provide our users with innovative, agile, and hassle-free solutions in just a few clicks." For Gopass premium users, there will be no additional cost to use the service, while those with a basic membership will be charged a 500 peso surcharge.

Both Flypass and Gopass emphasize that the new self-service system is in line with the most advanced models implemented in European cities, where parking payments are made directly from mobile devices. The ability to manage parking from an app eliminates the need to search for physical parking meters, carry cash, or complete in-person procedures.

You might be interested in: Yango launches new business solutions with AI and digital advertising

In addition to the technological component, the operation of the ZPPs has a social impact. According to González, "more than half of the employees are single mothers, as well as former vehicle guards," which represents a transition to formal employment for people who previously performed this work informally.

Flypass emphasizes that the on-street parking service does not require the use of a toll tag. "You only need to have an active Flypass account and a registered payment method," the company stated. For those who do wish to purchase the tag, it is available on its website, on e-commerce platforms, and at physical points of sale.

The company also reported that no memberships or permanence clauses are required to access the service, and that users will be able to accumulate and redeem points through the Puntos Colombia loyalty program.

According to Henao, "This launch in Bogotá is an evolution of this service, where self-service and simply downloading the app will make it much easier. We're sure users will greatly appreciate this new service. Flypass aims to protect people's time."

Paula Galeano Balaguera

Portfolio Journalist