Житель Нэшвилла запустил вирусный сервис для поиска бесплатных парковок в городе

This viral website can help you find free parking in Nashville The new website went viral days after it launched, drawing more than 4,000 sign-ups. What This Story Is About - A Nashville man built a free tool to help drivers find parking in busy areas of the city. Why It Matters - Parking costs are keeping people away from local businesses. Some Nashville lots charge $30 or more for an hour of parking. What Happens Next - The platform has already grown to more than 4,000 users who will work to verify new spots. For Context - Meter ‘kept charging’ driver 96 hours after leaving Nashville parking garage, woman says - 12 South businesses push back on new parking restrictions - Nashville musicians push back against plan to eliminate free parking on Music Row NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Nashville man created a free online tool to help drivers find free and validated parking around the city. Tony Gulley launched LotBoss last week and it went viral almost immediately. He came up with the idea after scanning a QR code at a 12 South parking lot and seeing it was going to charge him $30 for one hour of parking. “It should never cost more for parking than it is to have lunch,” Gulley said. “I just hate seeing these QR codes and paying for parking.” LotBoss features a list of local businesses in different Nashville neighborhoods and where the best parking options are located. People can search by name or look on an interactive map. Gulley started by calling around to stores to figure out what lots they validate parking for or where there is free street parking located nearby. He’s hoping the community will help continue to grow the database and keep it updated. From frustration to 4,000 members More than 4,000 people signed up for LotBoss within a week of its launch, Gulley said, after he posted about it on TikTok. The response caught him off guard. “Somebody asked me to run for mayor and people are just saying, ‘this is such an amazing resource,’” Gulley said. “My ultimate goal was just to give back to the community to say, ‘how can we truly just spend our money on the local businesses and not waste it on parking?’” Gulley said the parking problem is driving people away from Nashville altogether and hurting small businesses in the process. He’s heard from people who skipped going to an event, restaurant or other business because they didn’t want to pay up to $60 for parking. How LotBoss works The LotBoss website allows users to search for parking by business name or through an interactive map. Users can add new locations, submit photos and leave updates when parking availability or pricing changes. “Parking changes every day,” Gulley said. “Give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down and it’ll ask, ‘Hey, what’s changed?’ If you verify it, that shows locals this is as fresh as two hours ago. The more we add and put our powers together, the more we’ll get some great spots out there.” The platform also allows users to leave tips for nearby alternatives. Gulley said people are willing to walk a couple of blocks if there is free parking available. Gulley said the goal is not to eliminate paid parking, but to give drivers better information. “We’re not going to change these parking lots, but we can show better options for locals,” he said. “If we’re not paying for those lots, maybe we’ll see those prices go down.” Neighbors and commuters take notice Brendan Frainey, who lives in the 12 South area, said the parking situation has become a barrier for residents and visitors alike. He said they will either walk into the business district or just stay home during busy times. “It’s gotten increasingly challenging to be able to find parking,” Frainey said. “If we can’t walk or the weather is not good, we’re less likely to come to the area just because it is so much a headache.” He said LotBoss could change that dynamic for people by allowing them to plan ahead. They can know exactly where to park before leaving the house instead of driving around looking for open spots. Gillian Rodgers said she saw the TikTok and immediately shared it with friends. She had been using ride shares from her home in Wedgewood-Houston to avoid the cost and hassle of parking in busy areas. “Usually we just end up Ubering everywhere because it’s not really like a feasible option,” Rodgers said. “You end up spending more for parking than Ubering.” She said the ability to find parking a short distance away could make driving a practical option again. She’s excited to use LotBoss and help contribute to the new parking community. Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.