SpotScout looks to be an interesting service matching available parking spots in the new wired world with immediate access to what is available.

The interesting fact is that in Portland and on this blog and this service did not attract any comments. This tells us something about the users of this blog and a little about Portland.

In some areas, people are driving around more these days just to find a parking place because of the political forces that want to limit them. This sounds like an innovative concept to save that kind of motor fuel consumption.

I don't know, paying a few dollars for knowledge about when a street space will open up seems a bit expensive, especially after going to all that trouble with your cell phone while driving. Also, what if they are late, do you block traffic waiting for them to move their car, or you are late, do they not leave until they see you? (Or do they leave anyways, and someone else takes the space that you paid money to find out about?)

In any case, the average person that is willing to pay for parking in this city knows that $2/hour is about the most anyone charges, (with the exception of the Rose Garden,) and once you've admitting mentally to yourself that you are willing to pay, it is usually very easy to find a space. There isn't a parking problem in this town, there is a free parking problem in this town...