NEWCASTLE motorists are ditching cash and credits cards for the council's mobile app to pay for parking.
The council's EasyPark app has become the most popular method of payment for on-street parking.
More than 105,000 transactions were made via the app in September and October, eclipsing credit cards for the first time by 6,500 transactions.
Of the 272,993 parking transactions in the two-month period, 69,407 were made with cash, 98,651 by credit cards and 105,295 via EasyPark.
"EasyPark's popularity has been rising every month since we introduced it early last year, to the point it now accounts for about 40 per cent of all payments for on-street parking," lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
"As we move to a largely cashless society, it's likely that more than three quarters of parking payments will be made through EasyPark within the next few years.
"The app is hugely appealing not just because many of us don't carry around coins anymore, but also because it offers users virtual control of their parking space from anywhere in the city.
"They simply open the app, select their parking zone and spin a wheel on their phone to select how long they want to pay for parking."
The app offers motorists a 25 per cent discount on the hourly price of parking, and the first 15 minutes free in one and two-hour parking zones.
The discounted rate was due to finish in December, but council will instead offer a 15 per cent discount for the remainder of the financial year.
The app also allows motorists to extend their paid parking time without returning to the meter.
"If drivers find they need to stay longer than first intended, they can extend their stay via the app instead of having to walk back to the meter or risk a parking fine," Cr Nelmes said.
"Or, if they return to the car earlier than expected, they can simply cancel their parking and only pay for the time that they use."
Meanwhile, electric vehicle drivers have used the No.2 Sportsground chargers for more than 148 hours in 277 charging sessions since they opened in August.
Another charger was installed in Laman Street, Cooks Hill, earlier this month, with another two sites in the nearby Queen Street carpark and on Wharf Road to go live in coming weeks.
