Central kiosks might replace parking meters

What if meter change were no longer necessary?

Imagine the possibilities for your car’s ashtray.

Jelly beans for a little traffic-jam snack (peanuts for low-carb dieters).

How about breath mints for that romantic rendezvous at your favorite lookout spot?

Or even cigarette ashes?

In coming years, the possibilities could be opened wide. The city of Spokane is considering installing central kiosks instead of parking meters.

Cities such as Portland and Seattle already use the kiosks.

Drivers pay with cash or a credit card at a machine located centrally in the block. Then they post a receipt printed with an expiration time inside their car.

Have more errands? If time remains on the receipt, you can use it at another parking space.

That’s good news for drivers who overestimate the amount of time they need at each stop. But not-so-good news for those of us who like to freeload off the time the last guy left on the meter.

There’s no time frame for implementing the change, said Dave Mandyke, the city’s deputy director of public works.

But it could generate 20 percent to 40 percent more meter revenue by frustrating meter freeloaders.

Each kiosk costs about $8,000 and would replace 10 meters on most blocks to “get rid of the picket fence look,” Mandyke said.

All of the city’s 2,700 meters wouldn’t be replaced immediately, but the city would have to mount a pretty big education campaign when it starts the switchover.

You know someone would pull into a downtown spot and walk away, thinking parking is free.

And we all know there ain’t such a thing as free downtown parking.

Another reason to drive a manual

I’ve always preferred driving a stick shift to an automatic.

You have more control, and it’s a heck of a lot more fun.

Well, my commitment to shifting my own gears was solidified last week when I heard about a would-be car thief who didn’t get the vehicle.

The guy had just stolen two handguns from a north Spokane pawnshop and was trying to make his getaway via a carjacking. But he failed.

Turns out the guy didn’t know how to drive a stick shift.

Weekly warning

The Spokane Police Department will be conducting an emphasis patrol this week near 29th Avenue and Mount Vernon Street.

It will be on the lookout for speeders and drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians.

This emphasis program has been so successful that neighborhoods have been clamoring to get on board.

Slow going

Spokane city crews will be repairing Magnesium Road between Nevada and Crestline streets starting Tuesday and running through Aug. 26. Repairs will be under way between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.