The Observation Deck

I really like the idea of bike racks.

Darn now I'm gonna have to stop bagging on Windmills

Lynn to weigh in on bike racks contact Jennifer Hooper of Lakewood Community Progress Inc. (jhooper@lcpi.org, 216-521-0655). I did a short plea for more racks as part of the Main Street initiative last week. Followed up with an e-mail, nothing back yet but I will check in with Jennifer myself early next week.

Nothing against flowers, but racks don't need to be watered, deadheaded and replaced every year. And racks have the potential to bring people downtown. who might not otherwise come. Can't hurt to put racks next to places where people can spend money.......

Hi,
I think a bike rack by the little park near "The Place to Be" would make sense.

One of my issues with the MainStreet group is it fails to look for solutions to all of Lakewood and focuses on just the downtown area. While I agree any area in Lakewood could do better, that area is not one that I feel needs the most attention.

I wish they would have worked to address our commercial corridors, Detroit and Madison. Hanging baskets are nice by why do it in just on part of Detroit. As I understand, through various means the City (our tax dollars) is funding a large part of that Group.

Why didn't we just implement the ideas proposed by the last "Mainstreet Group" sans West End Strip Mall, which I never really felt was their idea. I think it was more a developer's twisted notion of their ideas.

Flowerbaskets and bike racks don't have to be mutually exclusive. Tim et al, which by the way includes me, can work with the Mainstreet group and we can also develop a funding mechanism.

As for the racks, I ride all over Lakewood all the time. The only time I use a bick rack is if they're properly anchored, not stacked with other bikes and if a parking meter isn't available. I find that the parking meters are the best places for my bike. They're conveniently located and spaced.

When I look around downtown , I don't see piles of bikes stacked carelessly due to lack of racks, with the possible exception of Record Exchange and Phoenix. They need bike racks but they don't have a logical space - they do have parking meters . I'd love a rack at Heinan's but that's not in Lakewood or Mainstreet, so I digress.

So, is the plan or suggestion to put bike racks in public parking lots with the thought that riders will park their bikes and walk to the place they want to be? If so, I'm still parking at the parking meter. The sidewalk areas on Detroit are too narrow to accomodate the traditional bike rack; is there an alternative?

Just a few comments and questions. And while we're tying to figure out what we want and how to implement, I'll look forward to enjoying the flowerpots that are being paid for by a community organization, administrated by volunteers and designed and installed by a Lakewood business. Picking up trash and putting out flowers can go along way to improving the way people feel about their downtown. At least someone is doing something....thanks Mainstreet!

Suzanne

Parking meters! Genius, we often overlook the easy stuff.

I thought, now correct me if I am worng. That a large portion of the $13,000 for the baskets came from the city. If so, and the city has a $60,000 surplus as of three months ago, I think it is fair to question the sanity of the city's expendature.

Also I believe that the city has paid money into Mainstreet, so again it can be a fair critism. I am not faulting the good work of LCPI or Mainstreet but the city. Anything put back into the city from LCPI and Mainstreet would be considered a good thing.

Just to clarify my stance.

Quick reply as I am out-of-town this weekend. Problem with parking meters is that they require a "U" lock, you can't use a cable lock. And since parking meters are not found at all possible destinations, cable locks tend to be more versatile. Only place the cable locks *don't* really work is with parking meters. "U" locks won't work in many circumstances. The right bike rack can accommodate "U" locks and cable locks. Phone poles, trees, and parking meters cannot.

Plus parking meters are not inviting and don't send the message that bikers are encouraged to stop, shop and stroll in Lakewood. Attractive, functional bike racks let bikers know they are welcomed and encouraged to make Lakewood stores and amenities a destination.

Tim, I think we're back to my questions. What type of bike rack and where will it be located? We're not going to widen the sidewalks and pedestrians are people too. As for chain v u lock, I'll take my ulock anytime. Chain cutters are just too easy to get and too easy to use. However, that is personal preference.

As for amenities..I stand by my statement that parking meters are conveniently located.

Something we should talk about.

Suzanne Metelko wrote:..Something we should talk about.

So would this be as easy as welding big loops to the current meters near the bottom?

I priced out strong loops and it would seem if we bought 500 of them they would only cost about $5.00 each. So welding might be another $10.00

Imagine almost overnight another 500 bike racks!


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BINGO! You read my mind! Mrs. Reece from Hayes Elementary School would call us 5th grade problem solvers.

For Bicycles:

In Toronto, they have a circular gizmo attached to a pole--not that complicated, really.



Doug

Doug-

I edited your post to have the image appear with no further clicking.

This image seems to illustrate the points of discussion between JOB, Tim Liston and Suzanne Metelko.

The bike in that image uses a "U" lock, but a chain lock would also work with this type of rack.

I don't know what these things cost, but perhaps they are a cost efficient way to start making Lakewood more bike friendly.

It also isn't ugly and doesn't take up a lot of space.

I appreciate your bringing them to everyone's attention.

DougHuntingdon wrote:For Bicycles:

In Toronto, they have a circular gizmo attached to a pole--not that complicated, really.

http://www.toronto.ca/bug/images/bp_bicycleparking.jpg

Doug

Doug


Wonder what Tim will think. To me it is perfect. Makes it hard to get a chain over the pole to steal a bike. You can clip any number of types of chains/locks to the unit and it would appear to be visual pleasing. You could even have some fun with them by putting them at different heights.

cool.



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Here's another view of this device:

I actually really like those, it's an interesting alternative to regular bike racks.

But wait, there's more!




(This isn't quite as good looking, IMO)

And here's something interesting...

Pittsburgh is doing this: Public Art Bike Racks

Over 130 of these new and unique Public Art Bike Racks will be installed around Pittsburgh in the coming months. Each rack will holds two bicycles - one on each side - and are made of solid galvanized steel. Each rack is securely bolted into the pavement.
http://www.bike-pgh.org/index.html

Those have the "Three Rivers" design (logo). The Lakewood logo would make a good bike rack...