Counterpoint: Lively streetscapes draw more travelers

If you want the Twin Cities to attract more tourists, you should listen to visitors.

A March 26 commentator bragged that his plan to provide free transportation in the Twin Cities area would entice more travelers ("My plan can make us the envy of the world").

But it's going to take a lot more than free bus or light-rail rides to convince crowds to come here. As a visitor staying in downtown Minneapolis, I believe a few things could be improved or made available to people like myself.

Free transportation is a nice start. But in this day and age, when almost all cities and towns struggle to fund their budgets, do not forgo fare revenue from residents. Offer free transportation to Twin Cities eventgoers and guests at participating hotels. It is easy to include with the already existing Visitor Pass, with tickets for the Science Museum, the Sea Life Aquarium or Auto Show. Sports fans might be a great target group, too. They will appreciate the perk. Most importantly, they are already paying for their visits while the cost of their bus ride is marginal.

Visitors to CeBIT, a digital technology trade show in Hanover, Germany, travel free in the city and the vicinity on buses and trains — and it is great.

Why don't local office building managers put up signboards informing people what is located at their facilities? In Minneapolis a significant number of service establishments and stores are located on the skyway level, accessible inside a building. A local resident probably knows what is there. For a visitor, it is a lot harder. As it is, I often have to go online to find a place where I can grab a sandwich for lunch.

To make it worse, when I do go search for my lunch, I will be likely looking for a national chain. It would be so much more interesting to try a local flavor instead of a homogenized offering from a big brand.

With today's technology, you can use large-format screens or projection foils for signboards, which make communications even more dynamic, colorful and attractive. Or you can use Bluetooth beacons to inform people about establishments at a given location.

Is the citywide Wi-Fi free here? Data packages are popular with mobile carriers, but in many instances — for example for a foreign traveler — Wi-Fi is a must. City of Minneapolis public Wi-Fi just takes the user to the landing page where you are required to pay even for 15 minutes of Internet access. Give people some time for free, even if it is only an hour a week. And no access to YouTube and other streaming services, just enough to check e-mail or have a Skype call. With intelligent network infrastructure, you can manage the user experience easily.

Very importantly, Wi-Fi coverage must be consistent, not spotty, especially outside buildings. USIW Free Wi-Fi — the city's reportedly free wireless network — does not seem to be available in most locations or simply drops the user due to a weak signal.

Once you have a good wireless network, you can guide your visitors with an interactive map of businesses, places to eat, venues to visit and other attractions across the cities. A smartphone app or a mobile website would be great. Bluetooth Low Energy beacons are a good tool as well to go with a phone application. The online guide can be made available as a walled garden just likewirelessminneapolis.org, without having to access the entire Internet.

One last thing is that after 4 p.m., and even earlier in the day, downtown Minneapolis is so deserted. It may be me, as I am used to bigger crowds in the streets and much heavier traffic. Do you think visitors like to see streets empty? People might just get scared and reluctant to walk, see sights and never come back. Even for a free light-rail ride.

Does everybody really leave for the suburbs after work or school? Get them to stay longer downtown. Let them make a crowd. Would you think free parking earlier than currently available could help?

Just a few quick thoughts from somebody traveling in the cities.

Pawel Kaczorowski lives in Warsaw, Poland.