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 Anne Alt on June 1, 2009 at 12:37am
Replacement of meters with bike racks is specified in the Bike 2015 plan. The post and ring design in the picture is one of the recommended examples. Apparently the demand for the other common rack configurations we're seeing right now is high enough that there's a bit of an availability problem, from what I'm hearing. Also, the post and ring can easily replace a meter in the same location.

Writing to your alderman to say that you patronize local businesses by bike and that bike parking is critical in the city overall for transportation and economic reasons, as many of us use bikes to visit businesses in our neighborhoods. Emphasize specific locations in your ward in your letter/fax/e-mail, and that you want to continue to support businesses in those business districts, giving a boost to jobs and the local tax base.

h3 said:
Anne Alt said:
Here's an example of post and ring rack currently in use on State St.


We have paid people who study these designs and their efficacy with Active Trans and the city bike program. Any chance you could use your contacts and find out what's available/possible, Anne?
We're still just groping around in the dark here. Is there a specific ordinance on the table or a proposal we'd like our alderman to support?
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 1, 2009 at 11:04am
Here's a shout-out to Active Trans for putting this issue in play with the local media. Sun-Times article here.

This Trib article talks about the latest with the meters, but NOT about bike parking.

Both articles are a prime opportunity to speak out in online comments.
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on June 2, 2009 at 5:22am
Hello all,

We’re back to our advocacy work after closing the office for a Bike the Drive break for our staff.

Here’s an update:

Your phone calls are working, thanks to everyone who has been making calls asking Alderman to prioritize bike parking for next year’s budget.

Our executive director, Rob Sadowsky, has been invited to a meeting with the Mayor’s Office, Dept. of Transportation and several others on Monday to discuss funding solutions.

We will update everyone with any outcomes after this meeting.

If you are interested pushing these asks to a higher level by calling your alderman to ask them to explore specific creative funding sources for bike parking such as TIF’s, SSA’s or aldermanic infrastructure budgets, please contact Rob Sadowsky or Adolfo Hernandez at 312.427.3325 x228 and 296 respectively.

We are very interested in helping people make these asks and will provide additional background and a brief training to ensure that the asks are as proactive and informed as possible.

One of the things we’ve learned from first go around is that some aldermen are well equipped at putting folks off. So, please call Rob or Adolfo and we will do our best to help with these higher-level asks.

As always, we will continue to make updates and answer questions about this issue. Hopefully Rob’s meeting with the city on Monday will have some good outcomes...keep your fingers crossed, Chainlinkers!

Thanks much,

Active Trans
Permalink Reply by aLex on June 2, 2009 at 6:02am
Hey, this is a great time to sign up for an Active Trans membership. This is a great example of their advocacy and how they use their avenues to address bikers' concerns. Not to mention the bike shop discounts ...

https://www.activetrans.org/membership


Active Transportation Alliance said:
Hello all,

We’re back to our advocacy work after closing the office for a Bike the Drive break for our staff.

Here’s an update:

Your phone calls are working, thanks to everyone who has been making calls asking Alderman to prioritize bike parking for next year’s budget.

Our executive director, Rob Sadowsky, has been invited to a meeting with the Mayor’s Office, Dept. of Transportation and several others on Monday to discuss funding solutions.

We will update everyone with any outcomes after this meeting.

If you are interested pushing these asks to a higher level by calling your alderman to ask them to explore specific creative funding sources for bike parking such as TIF’s, SSA’s or aldermanic infrastructure budgets, please contact Rob Sadowsky or Adolfo Hernandez at 312.427.3325 x228 and 296 respectively.

We are very interested in helping people make these asks and will provide additional background and a brief training to ensure that the asks are as proactive and informed as possible.

One of the things we’ve learned from first go around is that some aldermen are well equipped at putting folks off. So, please call Rob or Adolfo and we will do our best to help with these higher-level asks.

As always, we will continue to make updates and answer questions about this issue. Hopefully Rob’s meeting with the city on Monday will have some good outcomes...keep your fingers crossed, Chainlinkers!

Thanks much,

Active Trans
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 8, 2009 at 12:59am
I'm looking forward to hearing the results of this meeting.

Active Transportation Alliance said:
Here’s an update:
...
Our executive director, Rob Sadowsky, has been invited to a meeting with the Mayor’s Office, Dept. of Transportation and several others on Monday to discuss funding solutions.

We will update everyone with any outcomes after this meeting.
Permalink Reply by igz on June 8, 2009 at 5:18am
So im jumping on this thread since ive been notified from the ATA thread that there is a much larger response here. i wont reiterate too much from my other post, as most has been already discussed regarding the slightly unexpected (to many, including myself) byproduct of the meter agenda,

but...

what i really wanted to bring forth (i appologize if it has been discussed and i missed it here), is that we have an opportunity for creative approaches to bikeracks. i was thinking serpents weaving in and out of sidewalks, sunflowers growing out of concrete, abstract steelwork designs, tin soldiers guaring the bikes, etc.

ive read that there might be some issues cutting into the sidewalks, but if we are able to save the city the expense of dealing with this, maybe we can get a go-ahead (sorry, im sure its easier said than done). maybe we can get some local scrap yards to support the effort, providing steel and such, maybe there are some metal workers/artists that want to tinker with a welder, get support from the local business that we are supporting to throw their logo somewhere on the structure (kinda like adopt a street programs).

i would imagine an organized team of designers, fundraisers, artists, politically attached folks, local biz and such could make this happen, and happen pretty quickly. it would be great to see some of our artistic racks up by next summer. im sure they would receive some publicity as well, further promoting the cause.

am i over-optimistic?
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 8, 2009 at 7:21am
If the city would go for it, this could be very cool, kinda like a DIY version of the artistic NYC bike rack program David Byrne was involved in.

www.davidbyrne.com/art/bike_racks/nyt_8_8_08.php
Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on June 8, 2009 at 7:41am
Anne Alt said:
If the city would go for it, this could be very cool, kinda like a DIY version of the artistic NYC bike rack program David Byrne was involved in.

www.davidbyrne.com/art/bike_racks/nyt_8_8_08.php

ugly hippie crap. no thanks.
Permalink Reply by igz on June 8, 2009 at 7:50am
strangely, even tho this is the direct link...it doesnt take you directly there. go to art + books, then you'll see the bike rack 2008 link.

this is awsome. and the designs are so simple, therefore, so many possibilities. an outline of the hancock building would be a great bike fixture in chicago. an outline of a car as a bike rack would be quite amusing. a minature version of the daley plaza picasso? its endless.

again, anyone want to get together, draft designs, find out who the right people to talk to are and take it from there?
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on June 8, 2009 at 8:02am
If a business owner wanted to install a rack on the sidewalk outside of their business, what kind of permit do they need to get?

Maybe the artistic bike rack program could be like that Globe project a couple of years ago? Or the Pigs on Parade that Seattle did? Businesses could install artistic, functional bike racks and it would look good for the city as well.

I'd want to get together and talk about this! Definitely!
Permalink Reply by igz on June 8, 2009 at 10:03am
jami, i believe that your balloon expertise might actually be a very handy skillset towards this!!

jamimaria said:
If a business owner wanted to install a rack on the sidewalk outside of their business, what kind of permit do they need to get?

Maybe the artistic bike rack program could be like that Globe project a couple of years ago? Or the Pigs on Parade that Seattle did? Businesses could install artistic, functional bike racks and it would look good for the city as well.

I'd want to get together and talk about this! Definitely!
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on June 8, 2009 at 5:51pm
BRILLIANT!

jamimaria said:
If a business owner wanted to install a rack on the sidewalk outside of their business, what kind of permit do they need to get?

Maybe the artistic bike rack program could be like that Globe project a couple of years ago? Or the Pigs on Parade that Seattle did? Businesses could install artistic, functional bike racks and it would look good for the city as well.

I'd want to get together and talk about this! Definitely!

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