Rio's New Digital Parking System Draws Over 7,600 Uses in First Three Days

The Rio municipal government launched a pilot of the Rio Rotativo Digital parking system on July 17 in the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas area. The system replaces paper tickets with payments through the Jaé mobile app, charging a flat rate of R$2 for up to two hours and allowing extensions up to a six‑hour limit. During the first three days of testing, more than 7,600 parking activations were recorded, and on the inaugural Sunday, about 90% of the 903 available spots were occupied.

Drivers reported a sharp drop in costs; Luiza Ferreira, who previously paid R$70 for a four‑hour stay, said she paid only R$4 using the new service. The app records vehicle location via GPS, and enforcement data and images are reviewed by traffic authorities, while on‑site vehicle attendants help users but do not issue fines.

The pilot will remain in the Lagoa zone for further testing before expanding to other neighborhoods in Rio.