I visited South Korea when I was a kid and have many fond memories of the people, places and food there. But I have one vivid memory of my travels that has to do with transportation.

Our family of six was all crammed in a taxi van driving through downtown Seoul on our first day there. It was bumper to bumper traffic as we moved very, very slowly up a downtown city street. But soon we found ourselves in good spirits as we found a very old man pushing a cart of vegetables down the sidewalk. My brothers and I decided that we were in a race with this old man moving at a snail’s pace down the road. The old man would take the lead and then our taxi would move 10 yards up, passing him and taking the lead. Then the old man would pass us with his cart, only for us to recover the lead moments later. This went on for some time until the old man finally left us in the dust, as my family cheered aloud.

This video I found on the Freakonomics podcast about a neat little parking invention in Seoul to help with traffic congestion reminded me of my story.

A fun traffic-related idea I came across recently was a traffic light that provided some entertainment to help stop people in Lisbon from jaywalking. Check it out here: http://themetapicture.com/unique-traffic-light/. It’s funny how sometimes it’s the little things that make good ideas.

Do you have a parking-related idea you are interested in sharing with the parking world? IPI is hosting its first ever Park Tank, fashioned after the popular American TV show “Shark Tank.” This is your chance to float an idea for a parking-related product or service to a panel of parking experts, including representatives from large municipalities and venture capitalists. IPI is looking for start-up companies, exhibitors, and entrepreneurs to participate. There is no idea too large or too small. Slots are limited and applications are due March 31 (that’s next week!), so you’d better hurry.