Parking.

Inevitably, every growing city in America faces the same problem; but when a city is a popular tourist attraction, such as Poulsbo, the problem is exacerbated.

Unique and sometimes innovative solutions are introduced by forward-thinking city planners and entrepreneurs to alleviate the problem. Maybe Poulsbo is ready for an “outside of the box” solution.

Pondering the problem after reading the subject article churned my entrepreneurial juices, prompting a bit of research on some of those other cities and their workable solutions. What follows is a suggestion for the Honorable Mayor and the Historical Downtown Business Association to consider.

Assuming Acting Planning Director Karla Boughton’s statement that “the problem is largely one of behavioral and managerial” is fact, and there are enough spaces but patrons of our colorful downtown are reluctant to walk to or from them, this could be a viable alternative: Bicycle taxis, or “pedi-cabs” as they are commonly called.

Don’t laugh — many cities have them. Just read on.

Some research produced a plethora of manufacturers and dealers of pedi-cabs, most under the price of a thousand dollars, not an astronomical figure which the city could presumably afford.

The business association could hire a taxi operator (young and physically fit) for a minimum wage and he or she could keep all tips. Hours of operation would be peak times and days of the week for downtown activities, and the taxi operator would cruise the more distant spaces, picking up passengers and bringing them to or from their car.

Everything workable begins with an idea; this is just one of which many others might come forth after this letter is published, but it is one that is working in many locations and should be considered.

The hundreds of American cities using pedi-cabs attest to their viability.

Bill Effinger

Poulsbo