City of Reading, Pennsylvania

Are you making a quick stop to pick up dinner?
Do the kids need cold medicine?
Maybe you’re depositing a check at the bank…

Over half of the people using meters on Penn Street park for less than 10 minutes, and now their parking is on us! The Reading Parking Authority’s Free 10 on Penn project provides up to 10 minutes of free on-street parking for people visiting Penn Street for quick errands. Just enter your license plate number in one of the pay stations on Penn Street—they’re on every block—and you’re done!

How do we know most people using meters park for less than 10 minutes? We used technology to study metered parking habits in Reading for four months, and it told us “10” is the magic number!

So now more than half the visitors to Reading’s downtown district will enjoy free parking with Free 10 on Penn. And since everyone loves free parking, we hope it will encourage people to be efficient during their trip. When spaces turnover more frequently, it’s much easier for other customers to find parking when they arrive.

Free 10 on Penn is part of Reading Parking Authority’s new “Experience Downtown Reading” campaign that supports businesses in the downtown commercial core through development of customer-friendly parking options and promotional support.

Parking 10 minutes or less? It’s FREE!

Just follow these quick and easy steps:

• Note your license plate number before you walk away. (PRO TIP: Cell phone photos work great!)
• Locate the closest pay station. You can find them near the center of the block on both the north & south sides of Penn Street.
• Enter your license plate number into the pay station.
• Follow the on-screen prompts.
• Your free 10 minutes start after the last screen.
• Remember to take your receipt! It includes what time your free parking expires.
• On the run and realize you need more time? The ParkMobile app lets you add time right from your phone.

• Suggestion: Set the timer on your phone or watch to remind you when to be back at your car!

View PDF: READING EAGLE – Reading Parking Authority and Mayor Eddie Moran roll out free 10-minute parking program

Available at pay stations only. Currently not available via app or text.
Limited to one (1) time per calendar day.
Only necessary & available during meter enforcement hours:

• Mon – Fri from 8AM-6PM
• Saturday from 8AM-2 PM