🅿️ SignSpot

A crowdsourced web app to help drivers spot problematic parking signs before getting ticketed

Demo Concept: Community-driven platform for reporting and discovering parking signs that are hidden, unclear, missing, or damaged.

💡 The Problem

Private parking companies often place signs in hard-to-see locations, leading to unfair parking tickets. This app addresses that by crowdsourcing problematic sign locations.

🎯 Solution

• Interactive map using OpenStreetMap (no API keys needed)
• Simple reporting - click map location, select issue type, submit
• Visual markers - color-coded by issue severity
• Lightweight - Single Python file, SQLite database, no complex setup

✨ Features

• 🗺️ Interactive OpenStreetMap - Click to report issues
• 📍 Location-based reports - Pin exact problem locations
• 📸 Categorized issues - Hidden, unclear, missing, damaged
• 👍 Community voting - Confirm problematic signs
• 💾 SQLite database - No external database needed
• 🚀 Single Python file - Simple and lightweight

🏃 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8 or higher (check: python3 --version)
• uv (install: curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh)

Installation & Run

# Navigate to project (after cloning the `signspot` repo)
cd signspot

# Run with uv (automatically creates venv and installs dependencies)
uv run main.py

That's it! The app will open automatically at http://localhost:8080

uv handles everything automatically - virtual environment, dependencies, and running the app.

Alternative (without uv)

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
python main.py

📖 How to Use

1. View reports - See all parking sign issues on the map (colored markers)
2. Report an issue - Click anywhere on the map
3. Fill the form - Select issue type and describe the problem
4. Submit - Your report appears immediately on the map
5. Vote - Click existing markers to view details and vote

🎨 Issue Types

• 🔴 Hidden - Behind bushes, trees, or obstacles
• 🟠 Unclear - Faded, confusing wording
• 🟣 Missing - Should be there but isn't
• 🟤 Damaged - Broken, vandalized, graffiti

📁 Project Structure

signspot/
├── main.py              # Complete application (~200 lines)
├── requirements.txt     # Just NiceGUI
├── parking_reports.db   # SQLite database (auto-created)
└── README.md

🛠️ Tech Stack

• Framework: NiceGUI - Python web UI framework
• Maps: Leaflet.js + OpenStreetMap (no API keys!)
• Database: SQLite (built into Python)
• Frontend: Automatic (handled by NiceGUI)

🌐 Deployment

Deploy for free on:

• Railway - railway up
• Render - Connect GitHub repo
• PythonAnywhere - Upload and run
• Fly.io - fly launch

💡 Why NiceGUI?

• ✅ No Node.js, no frontend/backend split
• ✅ One language (Python) for everything
• ✅ Built-in reactive UI components
• ✅ Native Leaflet map support
• ✅ Perfect for rapid prototyping
• ✅ Easy to extend and customize

🚀 Future Ideas

• Photo uploads
• User authentication
• Export to CSV/JSON
• Mobile app (same Python code!)
• Email notifications
• Dark mode
• Filter by issue type
• Search by location

⚠️ Disclaimer

EXPERIMENTAL SERVICE - NO LIABILITY

This is an experimental crowdsourced application. The information provided is submitted by community members and may be inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete.

Important:

• We make NO WARRANTIES about the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any reports
• We assume NO LIABILITY for parking tickets, fines, or any other consequences
• Always verify parking signs yourself before parking
• Use this service at your own risk
• Report accuracy depends entirely on community contributions

📄 License & Copyright

© 2026 SignSpot. All rights reserved.

MIT License - Free to use and modify for non-commercial purposes.

🙏 Credits

• Maps: OpenStreetMap
• Framework: NiceGUI
• Icons: Leaflet Color Markers

---

SignSpot: Spot the signs before they cost you! 🅿️✅