By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Privatizing a shuttle service from parking lots to and around downtown should help alleviate visitor angst and Blowing Rock’s longtime parking problem if Amy Robbins has anything to say about it. The local entrepreneur and her new shuttle were the featured hosts of a ribbon cutting on June 24, at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce office.
“I’ve been working at the Social restaurant on Main Street,” Robbins explained to Blowing Rock News of her inspiration for starting the new business. “During the summer season, it is not uncommon for us to serve meals to 400-600 guests each day on the weekend. The No. 1 complaint I hear from people is the trouble they have finding a place to park. Others have told me about times when they turned around and left Blowing Rock because they couldn’t find a place to park. Well, this is my opportunity to offer a helpful solution.”
Robbins’ solution: a brand new, large air-conditioned passenger van with comfortable seats; eight identified places to park; all-day passes and one-way passes; on-demand flexibility; a regular route cycle; and convenient hours.
The message to visitors: “Don’t spend your day looking for a parking spot!” Instead, says Robbins, the visitor(s) can Park and Ride.
“It’s as easy as 1-2-3,” said Robbins. “1 – Meet the shuttle at any one of our route’s eight stops. 2 – Purchase your ticket to ride at the shuttle (card, or discount for cash). 3 – Hop on and ride!”
The rates are reasonable, including an All-Day Pass ($12 credit or debit card, $10 cash) and a One-Way Pass ($6 card, $5 cash). Children 10 and under are $5 for an All-Day Pass.
Robbins operates the shuttle service on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. No reservations are required.
Herself a former UPS driver, Robbins has made arrangements for eight different stops, including free parking at Shoppes on the Parkway, the parking deck next to the American Legion Building and the parking deck adjacent to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. Other stops on her route include The Embers Hotel, The Social on Main and Speckled Trout Outfitters, the 1888 Museum, on Morris Street (between the Hemlock Inn and Homestead Inn, and the front loading zone at Blowing Rock School.
Robbins enlisted other drivers, too, including a former FedEx driver and a military veteran.
The Town of Blowing Rock tried a shuttle service once before in partnership with AppalCart, the bus service catering to Boone and Appalachian State University. A member of Blowing Rock’s Board of Commissioners, Doug Matheson was the town’s liason and chief organizer for that service.
“It was a good idea but we had too many rigid limitations,” Matheson said, before smiling and adding, “I told Amy (Robbins) that I wasn’t going to tell her what to do, but I would tell her what NOT to do! Gosh, I wish her all the best because I still think a well-conceived, well-run shuttle service can be a huge help in solving some of our visitors’ frustration in finding a place to park. It is cost prohibitive right now for the town to try to buy more land and build another parking deck. I think it is also important that the town’s merchants and shopkeepers get behind her shuttle idea and help spread the word. Amy is bringing them more business — and happier customers.”
Robbins said that she will add more shuttle vans to the route as business picks up. One of the advantages she brings to the operation is a customer-first orientation.
“We have a phone number visitors can text or call to ask how long it might be before the shuttle arrives at a specific location,” said Robbins. “On most days, from anywhere along the route we are probably no more than 20-30 minutes away, usually much less.”
The Blowing Rock Shuttle Hopper phone number is 828-434-3537. The website is http://www.brshuttlehopper.com.
