Now, hear me out for just a second. I know there’s an obvious difference between a Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide and a Ford F-450 four-door long-box dually. But would it really be so out of character to open up downtown Rapid City to allow for larger vehicles to park? Wow, I said it.
So maybe—just for this week, well, actually about ten days—we adjust our three-lane roads running east and west on Main Street and St. Joseph Street and temporarily convert them into two-lane roads. Imagine even allowing overnight parking to promote safe driving and help prevent drunk driving.
Of course, there would need to be limits. I can already hear the concerns: What if someone parks on the first Friday and doesn’t move their vehicle until the next Friday, just paying for parking all week? Would we charge for parking? Most likely, yes.
But imagine the benefits—creating space for larger rigs and making it easier for Stock Show visitors to get downtown to shop, eat, stay, and explore our beautiful, historic Rapid City. Would we see an uptick in shopping? Perhaps we could allow parking on just one side—Main or St. Joseph—or even designate a few key blocks in the main corridor.
We do this for motorcycles during the Sturgis Rally without hesitation. Sure, the difference in size is obvious at first glance, but a guest is a guest in our town. Could this be a new way to encourage more traffic and energy downtown?
Side Note: A Stock Show Parade?
And while we’re at it—how about a really cool parade to kick off the Stock Show? Picture it starting at the Fairgrounds and ending at The Monument, complete with a ribbon-cutting and some fun festivities.
Just a thought!
