Uber Adds Parking Reservations to Its Philadelphia App

On November 12, Uber customers in Philadelphia could use the company’s app to reserve parking at about 100 local garages and lots. The feature is part of a launch spanning 15 U.S. cities, including Boston, New York and Washington, D.C.

Users can choose a parking location, date and time, then compare prices and options on a map. The app also allows filters such as valet or self-parking. After booking and entering vehicle details, customers pay through the app and use a digital QR-code pass at the lot; some locations instead recognize the vehicle’s license plate. Sessions can be extended in the app if plans run long.

Uber acquired SpotHero, a parking-reservation service, for about $600 million earlier this year. The SpotHero app remains available as “SpotHero by Uber.” Uber says customers will eventually be able to book across SpotHero’s network of 13,000 garages, lots and valet locations in 400 cities in the United States and Canada. The new feature adds parking reservations to a range of Uber services that already includes food, grocery and package delivery.