If you’ve ever had the misfortune to find a parking ticket tucked under your windshield wiper in Milwaukee, there’s a novel twist in store. The city’s Mayor’s Office and Department of Public Works have hatched an idea that transforms parking tickets into what they’re calling “Streetcar Stubs” – essentially free passes to ride the Milwaukee Streetcar. According to a statement released by the city, this initiative allows drivers who’ve been fined for their parking faux pas to use that penalty as a ticket to hop on the streetcar.
The streetcar, which ambles along from the Lakefront to the Public Market and beyond, offers a scenic but leisurely route through Milwaukee’s downtown. For those disinclined to make use of their newfound “pass”, there’s a philanthropic alternative. The city suggests that drivers can donate the funds from their parking ticket to provide transit access for a Couture resident facing economic challenges – a chance for ticketed drivers to pay it forward, so to speak…