Politics & Government

Where Are the Plows in Chicago? There's an App For That

These apps, developed in Chicago, will make your Windy City winter a little easier.

By Paula Skaggs

If you are wondering when your street might be plowed or what parking restrictions are in effect, technology has come to your rescue. 

Web and app developers in Chicago have created a few apps to make this winter a little easier on residents. 

2inch.es, informs and alerts drivers of winter parking bans across the city, while another app —WasMyCarTowed, uses Chicago's towed and relocated car data to help reconnect drivers with their cars. 

There's also the app Clear Streets, that allows drivers to see where Chicago plows have been throughout the city. 

Clear Streets uses the same information as the city's Plow Tracker map that lets residents know where all the plows in Chicago are currently working. 

There are also several other apps available on the City of Chicago's website that were created to make life a little easier for city dwellers. The apps include SpotHero (where you can reserve or lease a parking spot), FasPark (to find street parking), Taxi Share Chicago and Techno Finder (to find public Wi-fi networks). 

While the apps weren't developed by the city itself, several are from the Apps for Metro Chicago competition, a government-sponsored competition where developers were invited to develop apps for those living in Chicago. 


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