We don't need bike to work week

We need more bike parking for the people who already do ride. This morning was ridiculous. Took me literally half an hour to find bike parking centered on Clark and LaSalle.  Why even put on bike to work week, or add all these new bike lanes into the city, when bike parking is so bad. Oh yeah, I forgot, bike parking doesn't make for a nice photo op for the mayor and Active trans...

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Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on June 20, 2012 at 10:46am

Hey all, just wanted to let you know that we are following this and will offer a response tomorrow.

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on June 20, 2012 at 10:50am

What gets the public to support highway construction?  Congestion on the streets and highways.  What will get the public to support more bike parking?  A lack of bike parking, in the face of sidwalks teeming with bikes.  

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on June 21, 2012 at 10:38am

Bike racks in Chicago are primarily paid for through federal CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation Air Quality) funds. Chicago has an $800,000 CMAQ-funded contract for 2,400 bike racks, for installation over a period from 2011 through 2014.

These funds only go so far, of course. Chicago does have more bike parking than many/most other cities and obviously more is needed.

Active Trans did bring up the issue of bike parking in conjunction with the impending parking meter lease with city departments that we work with. Some of them, including CDOT, were aware of the challenge and trying to address it.

In the end, the parking meter deal moved quickly to approval and we are all (city, CDOT, Active Trans, Chicagoans) trying to work within and around the specifics of the lease and how it impacts our work.

Regarding the bike rack pointed out at Dearborn/Madison, we confirmed with CDOT that the bike rack was coming unbolted and required repair. The warning signage was applied with the intention of preventing cyclists from locking to an unsecured rack, for the safety of the crew, and to prevent damage to a bicycle.  CDOT completed repairs this week, and the bike rack is back in service. 

Chambers of Commerce and SSAs occasionally fund bike parking for their business districts to supplement the city’s efforts.  For example, the bike corral on Milwaukee was funded by the Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area (SSA), and Chambers in Lakeview and South Shore are also installing their own bike racks. 

In addition to advocating for additional CMAQ funding for bike parking, Active Trans is reaching out to Chambers and SSAs to encourage them to consider these projects.  

We are also exploring potential policy solutions that would result in more bike parking inside buildings. We recognize that as new bikeways are added, more people will be biking, and we will need more bike parking – and we’ve incorporated bike parking into our advocacy plans accordingly.

A few ways we’d suggest people can help get more bike parking:

  1. Request bike racks through CDOT’s website (www.chicagobikeracks.org) or by calling 311! Right now is the best time to do this. The city learns about the demand and lack of supply through the public, and CDOT has said they’ve received fewer than usual requests in 2012. The city is starting to survey requested locations now for 2012 installation, and you want to make sure your request is in their queue as early as possible. CDOT typically surveys more than 1,000 locations each summer.

  2. Contact your local Chamber or SSA to encourage them to incorporate bike parking into their programming through bike corrals or unique bike racks.

  3. If you work in a large office building, request additional bike parking or a bike room from the building manager.

 

Thanks much,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Jason W on June 21, 2012 at 11:16am

Thank you very much for addressing this thread, Ethan. While I think the results could be better, at least you are aware of the problems and are working on them. I have requested racks through the city website again. I have also asked my building, and they don't care. I work at the bank of America building, and they specifically said BofA didn't want more racks because that location is where their high money investors do business.

I am a bit confused on why funding for racks has to come through these specific means. It's not cheap to put racks in, but putting in bike lanes has to be way more expensive. I guess I'm just saying, why so much investment in bike lanes, and not as much in racks?

Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on June 21, 2012 at 7:24pm

Get businesses to pay for bike racks. 

Wicker Park-Bucktown Special Service Area (SSA), for which I'm a member of the transportation committee, paid for the purchase and installation of the City's first (and only) on-street bike parking corral and 20 custom-designed (orange) bike racks for the SSA district (which someone linked to in the first page of this topic). This year the SSA plans to install 40 more of the orange bike racks. 

The Lakeview Chamber of Commerce (I think it was them) has paid for the manufacture and installation of at least 10 bicycle-shaped bike racks in its district. 

The Clark Street SSA (in Lincoln Park) has paid for the manufacture and installation of its own bike racks. There may be other business groups that have paid for the manufacture and installation of their own bike racks. 

The other businesses that should be installing bike parking are the ones you might be working for, the ones that have offices downtown. Talk to the building management company. 

Plenty of buildings in the Loop have indoor bike parking, already, though. Unfortunately, guidance for these areas is hard to obtain, and they are in poor shape, with a bad rack design. 

Your company or organization can hire me; I know a lot about bike parking. A lot. 

Bike parking is super cheap for small organizations like the above to manage, get installed. It's cheap to procure and install, but not cheap to find 500-600 *balanced* locations across the city. 

Oops, I repeated some of what Ethan said. 

Gene Tenner said:

So, what is the solution to more bike parking, if Bike to Work Week Isn't? Got a plan?

Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on June 22, 2012 at 2:41am

I'm just floored at how many BIKE SHOPS have woefully inadequate or poorly designed bike racks in front of their shops.  Just incredible to me.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on June 22, 2012 at 2:55am

Bravo, Steven.

Steven Vance said:

Get businesses to pay for bike racks. 

 

Permalink Reply by Vondo on June 22, 2012 at 3:07am

There's a shop near my job out in the suburbs that has a sign outside specifically stating NOT to bring your bicycle inside unless you're getting repairs done, and they have no bike rack out front. That kills me too!

Brendan Kevenides said:

I'm just floored at how many BIKE SHOPS have woefully inadequate or poorly designed bike racks in front of their shops.  Just incredible to me.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on June 22, 2012 at 3:41am

This wouldn't happen to be Sportif on Lawrence?  They get downright crabby if you bring a bike in.   I spend my money elsewhere. 

Regarding Steven's  excellent point about businesses putting in their own bike parking; has there been any push by Active Trans or other bike organizations to include language in zoning laws and permit applications for said businesses to include a specified amount of bike parking using some sort of formula?   This is done for handicapped parking and I think many businesses are required in some building zones to have a certain amount of car parking as well.   Why isn't bike parking language being written into these permit applications so that new construction, remodels, and larger business move-ins are required to provide this on or near their entrances and give the city  little break in trying to spread a woefully inadequate 600 racks/year around a city this size.  

Only 600/year?  You have GOT to be kidding me...  They could focus solely on the loop and still hardly make a dent.   This is mickeymouse pathetic.  



Vondo said:

There's a shop near my job out in the suburbs that has a sign outside specifically stating NOT to bring your bicycle inside unless you're getting repairs done, and they have no bike rack out front. That kills me too!

Brendan Kevenides said:

I'm just floored at how many BIKE SHOPS have woefully inadequate or poorly designed bike racks in front of their shops.  Just incredible to me.

Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on June 22, 2012 at 4:09am

Even if there's a requirement for bike parking, the building might also seek a variance and reduce the number. (Not sure if that's done/how effective it'd be....but I could see it happening.)

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 22, 2012 at 4:29am

My building has parking inside it's receiving garage.  It's free and you get a sticker to put on your bike.  Two and a half racks.  I use it in the Winter as there are only 5 - 10 other bikes in there.  I don't dare use it in the Spring/Summer; it gets so crowded that if you're an early parker there's no way you're getting your bike out when shift is over.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on June 22, 2012 at 4:32am

reminds me of downtown parking garages after 8am!

in it to win it said:

 I don't dare use it in the Spring/Summer; it gets so crowded that if you're an early parker there's no way you're getting your bike out when shift is over.

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