The Chainlink

disappearing parking meters and the local economy

In recent media coverage about the city of Chicago's parking meter fiasco, an issue has arisen that needs our vocal attention. Howard created a thread months ago about local pet peeves, mentioning disappearing parking meters creating a shortage of bike parking in some neighborhoods.

The latest bit of news is that, due to pressure on the new parking meter companies to make up for their screw-ups so far, parking meters will be phased out quickly to ensure more accurate metering and reduce the number of erroneously issued parking tickets. The plan discussed on Chicago Tonight was for 3,000 of the 3,600 existing meters throughout the city to be replaced by pay boxes by year-end.

How does this affect us? It creates a fairly urgent need to get a LOT of bike racks installed really soon. IMO, I think it's critical to emphasize to the powers that be that many of us shop and dine by bike, supporting neighborhood businesses, thus supporting the city's tax base. In light of stories like this, asking for bike racks so that we can help support local business may improve the odds of our message being heard sooner rather than later.

** NOTE: I got a correction on the numbers. It's 30,000 of 36,000 remaining meters.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on May 20, 2009 at 2:55pm
Gas meters will do in a pinch.
Permalink Reply by dittoottib on May 20, 2009 at 5:55pm
nows where well see our dollars that go to ATA in action.

go up to bat for us, ATA.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 21, 2009 at 5:59am
We got one response from Active Trans in the early postings on this discussion. I've also had responses off-list. I expect that we'll hear more soon, and I will be following up on this issue.

Meanwhile, I think we should make noise to try for some media coverage on this. It would be cool to see this issue covered on Chicago Tonight, among other venues.

dittoottib said:
nows where well see our dollars that go to ATA in action.

go up to bat for us, ATA.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 21, 2009 at 9:34am
Even better, where they're suitable. I'd love to see more of them in commute locations (train stations, near office buildings, etc.), but they're not the answer for sidewalks in neighborhood business districts.

Matt M. said:
NOOO---- INSTALL BIKE LOCKERS!!!!
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on May 21, 2009 at 3:03pm
Hello Chainlinkers, here's an update:

We have written to the city urging it to put some of the money generated by the lease toward bike parking. We are continuing to work closely with the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council and Chicago Department of Transportation on this issue.

What Anne, Howard, et al have been saying is correct, the best thing to do now is call your Alderman.

The opportunity: June marks the start of the City budget process.

Here’s what you can say:

Let your aldermen know that as part of developing the budget, the loss of bike parking is vital to your lives as a citizen and resident of their ward.

Ask them to make bike parking replacement in areas affected by pay-and-display conversions a priority.

Next steps:

Next week we will create a legislative action alert for our homepage and email our members in Chicago to help generate more calls.

We will continue to update everyone as we learn more and have more actionable steps we can all take.

Thanks much,
Active Trans
Permalink Reply by Bradford Smith on May 22, 2009 at 2:12pm
Has any thought been given to retaining some of the parking meter poles and retrofitting them with a new head or ring to enable their continued use as bicycle parking? Something similar to the following link might work. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikeracks_circle.htm
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 23, 2009 at 8:02am
I think this is worth proposing to the city, as I'm sure it would be less expensive than installing all new bike racks.

Meanwhile, will we see a letter blitz in Trib, Sun-Times, Reader, etc.? Are your aldermen getting buried by letters and phone calls? Let 'em rip! Talk about supporting small businesses AND sustainable transportation to sell the idea. Because it's not direct revenue like a parking meter, it's a slightly tougher sell.

If you talk about riding your bike to dine or shop in a particular small business district (such as Chinatown, Boystown, Devon in West Rogers Park, etc.) and how lack of bike parking will affect your ability to support those businesses, it will help to make the point with your alderman and the city as a whole. Money talks, so the business revenue angle needs to be part of the picture. The sustainable transportation angle alone won't make this fly.

Bradford Smith said:
Has any thought been given to retaining some of the parking meter poles and retrofitting them with a new head or ring to enable their continued use as bicycle parking? Something similar to the following link might work. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikeracks_circle.htm
Permalink Reply by E A on May 23, 2009 at 8:25am
Update from the 32nd Ward:
Alderman Scott Waguespack responded positively to the letter I sent. He says that he's "working on increasing the number of requests for racks in the 32nd" and to "feel free to drop locations via email or call them in" to the office. More from his response: "Also, we are funding about $65k from our ward menu money to repaint bike lanes in 32 this summer, but we are trying to get the actual streets fixed first."

Let your officials know your thoughts.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 25, 2009 at 9:26am
Thanks for the update, Elizabeth. Here's another fact to keep in mind when you're composing your letters: replacement bike parking to compensate for the removal of parking meters is specified in Chicago's Bike 2015 plan, which is an important piece of Mayor Daley's often-touted green agenda.

One good option is this Toronto design, similar to the Seattle idea mentioned above. I was in Toronto last month and saw thousands of these in use around the city. We have some like this near the downtown cultural center, and they are effective. As mentioned above, I wonder if a retrofit of existing parking meter poles with a lock-up ring addition might be less expensive than totally new racks.
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on May 25, 2009 at 10:25am
what about a fundraiser to buy and install some racks? how much do they cost?
Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on May 25, 2009 at 3:43pm
In addition to writing/calling your alderman, you could post to their Facebook wall. I know Manny Flores (1st ward) is on. More of their constituents will see it too, not just the staff. The more people know . . .
Permalink Reply by Kate on May 28, 2009 at 11:29am
I called Patrick O'Connor's office and they told me to fill out the online request form. *sigh*

Still, I did it and have been urging others to do so.

http://www.chicagobikes.org/bikeparking/ for anywhere you want to see bike parking.

A flood of requests for racks in specific areas doesn't seem like a waste of time, even if they don't have funding for them. In my opinion, it should be another tool used widely to identify the areas hardest hit by the removal of meters.

Additionally, if you are in the 40th ward, here is O'Connor's contact info:
http://www.aldermanoconnor.com/
ward40@cityofchicago.org
PHONE: 773.769.1140
Perhaps if more people call, they will think a bit harder about it...

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