Google Maps now lets you pay for parking and transit rides

Google just made it easier to get around town with minimal delays. It’s rolling out an update to Google Maps on Android (iOS is “coming soon”) that lets you pay for parking and mass transit rides in the app, rather than turning to third-party software or using a conventional card.

Team-ups with Passport and ParkMobile make it possible to pay for parking in over 400 US cities (including Boston, Los Angeles, and New York City) just by waiting for a prompt in Google Maps as you near your destination. You just have to specify how long you want to stay, or extend your time if you realize you’ll take longer than usual. Crucially, you don’t have to touch the meter — important during a pandemic.

You’ll have an easier time minimizing contact on the bus or subway, too. Google Maps can pay for your far in advance using any credit or debit cards linked to your Google Pay account. In some places, such as San Francisco, you’ll even get a virtual mass transit card you can either use at a tap-and-ride terminal or show to others.

Related: The 10 best driving apps for Android

The transit option will be available for Android users through 80 transit authorities worldwide in the “coming weeks.”

Google Maps’ parking and transit features are potentially very convenient. You can navigate, find parking and pay for it without jumping between apps. There’s a clear advantage for Google, though. The more you use Google Maps for transportation, the less likely you are to jump to rival mapping services. You might be more likely to use Google Pay, too. Not that you’ll necessarily mind if you spend less time stressing about the basics of your journeys.