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Show HN: Get NYC Bikeshare Availability via SMS so I can give up my smartphone

27 points by solomonrb 3y ago

devaiops9001 3y ago
From a GrapheneOS perspective, I would rather get this information via REST API or an open source app for which an APK is available.
fluxic 3y ago
This is awesome! Nice work.
ProllyInfamous 3y ago
This is awesome! My non-NYC jurisdiction requires most parking lots be paid by mobile app. As I do NOT carry a phone, I just don't bother paying [fake license plate trick]. I would (and did) pay for this parking before they removed the in-person cashmeters. People won't believe me when I inform "I don't carry a phone;" even less so when told "I don't use email anymore." Both TRUE statements.
- filoleg 3y ago
  > My non-NYC jurisdiction requires most parking lots be paid by mobile app Do they not offer an SMS alternative? Because both in ATL and Seattle, they always put the app upfront, but on the same sign there is usually a “or text abc to phone number xyz” signage. Just checked to confirm, PayByPhone (which is the most common parking app signage I see in Seattle) indeed has official support for paying parking through SMS listed on their website as well.
  - ProllyInfamous 3y ago
    I do not carry ANY cellular device, so no apps nor SMS. Machines should accept payment, on-site, themselves.
- cantSpellSober 3y ago
  Wow, when's the last year you read or sent an email? Doesn't posting on forums count as transmitting/receiving messages using a digital electronic device, like email?
  - ProllyInfamous 3y ago
    Other than temporary burners (for signups), 2017 was last regular usage of email (i.e. "reachable via email"). It's been really nice. Honest-to-god, I have a numeric pager (one-way comms) and don't even carry that out anymore. When asked for "your phone number" these are the digits I provide.
    - cantSpellSober 3y ago
      Not what I asked. You said you say "I don't use email anymore." What is the last year you used email?
- rex_gallorum2 3y ago
  People seem to believe me when I say I don't carry a phone, but they look at me like they're talking to a member of some 'uncontacted tribe'. I don't think it computes. The good ones at least have a machine where you can pay cash. I found myself having to park in such an area recently, and did some recon the day before, just to make sure there were machines on site - and there were. What I found funny was that the lot was attended by a live human being, too, which made me wonder why the owner of the lot in question had opted for an automated system at all. It bothers me that they insist on collecting license plate numbers. Why not just number the parking spots so they are classed as 'paid' or 'not paid' and dispense with the unnecessary surveillance? Is it even illegal to use a fake plate in a situation like that? Certainly if you are driving, but what about parking?
plondon514 3y ago
This is great! Thanks so much. Out of curiosity, what dumb phone are you using?
- solomonrb 3y ago
  Nokia 105 4g!
riordan 3y ago
This is genuinely awesome. The crossstreet based search is a perfect approach in NYC. Reminds me of how I used to use Google’s sms service to get directions from about 2004-2010.

27 points by solomonrb 3y ago

From a GrapheneOS perspective, I would rather get this information via REST API or an open source app for which an APK is available.

fluxic 3y ago

This is awesome! Nice work.

ProllyInfamous 3y ago

This is awesome! My non-NYC jurisdiction requires most parking lots be paid by mobile app. As I do NOT carry a phone, I just don't bother paying [fake license plate trick]. I would (and did) pay for this parking before they removed the in-person cashmeters. People won't believe me when I inform "I don't carry a phone;" even less so when told "I don't use email anymore." Both TRUE statements.

filoleg 3y ago
> My non-NYC jurisdiction requires most parking lots be paid by mobile app Do they not offer an SMS alternative? Because both in ATL and Seattle, they always put the app upfront, but on the same sign there is usually a “or text abc to phone number xyz” signage. Just checked to confirm, PayByPhone (which is the most common parking app signage I see in Seattle) indeed has official support for paying parking through SMS listed on their website as well.
- ProllyInfamous 3y ago
  I do not carry ANY cellular device, so no apps nor SMS. Machines should accept payment, on-site, themselves.
cantSpellSober 3y ago
Wow, when's the last year you read or sent an email? Doesn't posting on forums count as transmitting/receiving messages using a digital electronic device, like email?
- ProllyInfamous 3y ago
  Other than temporary burners (for signups), 2017 was last regular usage of email (i.e. "reachable via email"). It's been really nice. Honest-to-god, I have a numeric pager (one-way comms) and don't even carry that out anymore. When asked for "your phone number" these are the digits I provide.
  - cantSpellSober 3y ago
    Not what I asked. You said you say "I don't use email anymore." What is the last year you used email?
rex_gallorum2 3y ago
People seem to believe me when I say I don't carry a phone, but they look at me like they're talking to a member of some 'uncontacted tribe'. I don't think it computes. The good ones at least have a machine where you can pay cash. I found myself having to park in such an area recently, and did some recon the day before, just to make sure there were machines on site - and there were. What I found funny was that the lot was attended by a live human being, too, which made me wonder why the owner of the lot in question had opted for an automated system at all. It bothers me that they insist on collecting license plate numbers. Why not just number the parking spots so they are classed as 'paid' or 'not paid' and dispense with the unnecessary surveillance? Is it even illegal to use a fake plate in a situation like that? Certainly if you are driving, but what about parking?

plondon514 3y ago

This is great! Thanks so much. Out of curiosity, what dumb phone are you using?

solomonrb 3y ago
Nokia 105 4g!

riordan 3y ago

This is genuinely awesome. The crossstreet based search is a perfect approach in NYC. Reminds me of how I used to use Google’s sms service to get directions from about 2004-2010.