Instead of spending its energy figuring out how to attract shoppers from the new MGM casino, the city should expend more effort considering how to keep people coming to what is perhaps its biggest annual attraction, the Scottish Walk.
This year's walk on Dec. 3 was flawed by a miserable lack of adequate parking, an old problem that is getting steadily worse. We always give a reception for friends from outside of Alexandria, urging them to use Metro and trolley if possible, and suggesting that they arrive early and seek parking at the south end of Old Town. In the past this has worked, especially for those who don't mind long walking.
This year it did not work. Some of our guests, aware of this problem, just didn't come. To our acute embarrassment one couple parked in desperation in a no-parking area off Union Street, all the nearby garages being full. Their car was not in front of a fire hydrant or otherwise in an area where a real problem might have resulted, but they got ticketed anyway.
I have a few suggestions:
Explore allowing city garages to accept advance bookings from senior citizens;
Identify parking at Jones Point and vicinity and operate shuttle buses to serve them;
Do not schedule the Parade of Boats on the evening of the Walk (that was a big part of the problem);
Allow temporary parking in "no parking" areas (and mark them accordingly) where this can be done safely. Advise the police to go as easy as possible on ticketing.
If none of the above works, consider praying for authentic Scottish weather.
Robert Pringle
Alexandria