Evening star., 1923-12-17
CAR DEALERS SEEK
PARKING SOLUTION
Number of Ideas Suggested
for Relief in Downtown
Trading Sections.

Following a decision of its traffic
committe at a meeting today in the
City Club, the Washington Automo-
tive Trade Association has pledged
support to retail merchants in max
ing it easier for motorist to shop
with their cars in the downtown dis
trict
Paul B. Lum. president of the deal
ers' organization, said that If half as
much time were given to experiment
ing with solutions as is consumed in
complaining about the difficulty of
parking Washington motorists and
merchants would not be conscious of
a-parking problem
Free Bus Service.
"The free bus service Of Woodward
& Lothrop represents an interesting
experiment" said Mr.. Lum. There
is no reason why such plans should
not carry the Endorsement of any in
dividual or organization that is work
ing for Improvement of tratfic condi-
tions, since they serve to encourage
further experimentation.
Parking difficulties represent a
sales resistance for downtown mer-
chants whose stock, service and repu-
tation do not differ materially. from
that of those merchants whose stores
are more fortunately situated.
THE trade i'll the heart of any city,
however, represents its life blood, and
1t is on this theory that the Washing
ton Automotive Trade Association is
taking steps to indorSe and amplify
any worthwhile plan for parking relief
A number of interesting plans are
listed for discussion by the traffic COM
mittee.
One plan, it is said. will encourage
local automobile dealers to resist the
tendency to locate farther away from
the center of the city when rebuilding.
1t is believed that the automobile
merchant who enlarges his service
station near the center of things is in
a position to offer motorists the unique
service of rendering greasing, inspec-
ton, cleaning or repair service while
they are shopping.
Service Stations Downtown.
BY such a plan, il is pointed out, the
woman motorist is enabled to solve her
parking problem, enjoy the use of her
car to reach the downtown section, do
her shopping and return home in an
improved car.
For motorists who are willing to
walk a few blocks in preference to
driving through congestion the commit
tee will join with retail merchants in
urging the police department to set
aside more suitable sections Of the City
for unlimited parking.
The committee is of the opinion
that the problem is not where to
park" but how to use to best ad-
vantage the parking spaces already
available" An effort will be made
to have the. police in charge of park
ing regulations instruct all drivers
of cars to move ahead when there is
a waste space along the curb. In
this way one-third again as many
cars can be parked in the limited
parking sections. which means ac-
commodationS for approximately six
more machines per block per hour, or
200 more shoppers per block per day.
Fear Police Mistake.
1t has been shown that the average
shopper with parked car invariably
worries for fear the police will make
a mistake on the time limit, and pur-
chases are frequently deferred as a
direct consequence. To obviate this
a plan was suggested whereby rep
utable car owners would be issued
parking tags by the w. a. 7. A, these
to be attached to the steering wheel
of the car and time marked by the
motorist.
A stub carrying the same number
motorist to the first store he enters
where it would be handed to the
doorman. foorwalker or clerk, who
would note the time.
These stubs would be mailed daily