There are lots of options for getting around in Halifax, including driving. While driving is sometimes the only option for accessing areas without transit or active transportation infrastructure, hauling heavy objects, or for certain types of employment, it is not necessarily always the most convenient or fastest option to get where you need to go. By being strategic about when, what, and where you drive, you can limit the amount of time and money you spend on transportation.
CarShare
A carshare program allows users to rent vehicles from a privately-owned fleet, thereby reducing the need to own a vehicle themselves. Because carsharing gives you access to a vehicle without the need to pay for insurance, gas, parking, maintenance and other associated costs, it can save you thousands of dollars a year. While not the most economic option for daily commuting, carshare is a great option for households without vehicles who want to take trips out of town, shop for large items, or need a Plan B for rainy or snowy days. If you’re thinking about switching to active transportation or transit for your commute, carsharing gives you peace of mind to make the transition knowing you have the option to use a car if you need it.
The primary carsharing organization within the municipality is Communauto Atlantic. They provide a membership-based service that is available to all qualified drivers. Communauto Atlantic vehicles are dispersed across Halifax and Dartmouth and can be accessed 24-hours, 7 days a week at unattended self-service locations.
Carpooling
Carpooling is a great way for drivers to fill empty seats while reducing their travel costs. As a passenger, it can provide you with a ride to work or school in that can save you money and allow you to enjoy sharing a ride.
Park and Ride
Park-and-rides are parking lots near or at transit connections that allow commuters to park their vehicle and continue their journey via transit and/or active transportation. This combination of mobility options allows you to save money on parking while reducing the number of kilometers you drive per day. Find a park-and-ride near you.
Parking
Parking no longer has to be a hassle thanks to our new parking technologies that make paying for parking easier. There are also resources available to find accessible parking spots within Halifax and Dartmouth.
Pay Stations
We are transitioning from individual meters to pay stations for on-street parking, where the new system is a pay-by-plate, pay-by-zone system. This new parking technology will offer more flexible payment options such as credit card, debit card and smart pay. Instead of your parking space, payment for parking will be assigned to your vehicle. Therefore, you are able to drive more freely within the designated parking zone up until the duration of your payment or the maximum time permitted.
HotSpot Parking App
The HotSpot app is a mobile parking app that provides users with the flexibility of paying for parking on a mobile device for a monthly or annual fee. The app is available in Downtown Halifax at all meters and Waterfront pay-and-display parking lots. HotSpot makes parking downtown more convenient by informing users when their meter is close to expiring, enabling them to electronically extend their parking time and providing an early cancellation option for a session while being refunded for any unused time.
On-Street Accessible Parking
On-street accessible parking spots are located on the Halifax Peninsula and Downtown Dartmouth and can be viewed by a list or map. The Accessible Parking Spots Interactive map provides information on the:
- Servicing of the spot
- Location
- Number of parking spaces
- Parking duration
- Surface Materials
- Obstructions
- Other restrictions