New Parking Technology

"Meet LUKE" Step by Step Instructions

One piece of feedback that we often hear at Park Cedar Rapids is that many people just don’t carry change anymore, making it difficult to pay for on-street parking in a metered space. We’ve listened to your feedback and are excited to announce the newest member of our Park Cedar Rapids team, “LUKE.”

LUKE is our new multi-space parking pay station. You’ll see 40 LUKE pay stations in downtown Cedar Rapids and each LUKE will replace 6-8 regular, coin-only meters. There will be about one LUKE pay station per block face and LUKE offers a full range of payment options, including credit cards, debit cards and coins. All of the new meters, named LUKE by the manufacturer Digital Payment Technologies, are completely powered by solar panels that recharge an internal battery, ensuring a reliable and sustainable system.

Step 1: Look for Your Space Number

When you pull into a parking space in downtown Cedar Rapids, the first thing you should do is look to see if your space has a traditional coin meter or a sign that indicates a space number. If your space has a traditional coin meter, please go ahead and pay the meter. If your space has a number like this, please make note of your space number. You should also note the length of stay allowed at the meter (For example: 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours).

Also important to note: blue space signs indicate handicapped-accessible parking only.

Each space number will also include wording that will direct you to the nearest LUKE pay station.

Step 2: Enter Your Space Number

After "waking up" the LUKE meter, the next screen will ask you to enter your space number. Remember, this is the number located on the sign that was located in front of your parking space. The space signs are double-sided for customer convenience. Enter your space number and then hit "OK."

Step 3: "Purchase Ticket" or "Add More Time"

You will then be given two options: 1) Purchase Ticket or 2) Add More Time. If you are initially purchasing time for your space, press 1; if you would like to add more time, press 2.

Step 4: Select Your Length of Stay

Next, you'll be asked to select your length of stay. Options will be listed in increments of 15 minutes for the first hour and in half or full hour increments for each additional hour. For example, at a 2-hour meter, your choices will be: 1) 15 minutes, 2) 30 minutes, 3) 45 minutes, 4) 1 hour, 5) 1 and 1/2 hours and 6) 2 hours.

Step 5: Insert Payment

After selecting your length of stay, you will be asked to enter your preferred method of payment: credit card, debit card or coins.

• Using Credit or Debit: If you choose to use the credit or debit card option, please insert and remove your card quickly in the same manner that you would use the credit card reader at a gas station. Once the card has been inserted and removed, you will be told how much your visit will cost and then you can hit "OK." The price per hour varies throughout downtown but most on-street spaces are generally 90 cents/hour and of-street spaces are 60 cents/hour. PLEASE NOTE: The credit/debit card option can only be used on transactions over $1.00.

• Using Coins: If using the coin payment option, simply add coins until the desired amount is reached.

After you've indicated your length of stay using the keypad for credit/debit or simply by adding the desired amount of coins, hit “OK” to finalize your transaction.

Step 6: Don't Forget Your Receipt!

When your transaction is complete, LUKE will print a receipt confirming the space reservation. Your interaction with LUKE is now complete. You do not need to return to your vehicle nor place the receipt in your dash. All you need to do is pocket the receipt for your own records or deposit the unneeded receipt in a recycling bin.

Adding More Time

If you would like to add more time to your stay, you can use any LUKE pay station throughout downtown to add more time - as long as you are within your allowed length of stay. Refer to your receipt for the number that you'll be asked to enter at the LUKE meter to add more time - and please note - this is not the same number as your space number. Your receipt will provide you with this unique number.