How Columbus spent $300,000 on bike shelters that everyone hates

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How Columbus spent $300,000 on bike shelters that everyone hates

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Started 10 months ago by GoBikeColumbus.com
Latest reply from hugh59

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labi
Weinland Park
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lifeontwowheels said:
We had a copy of the consultant's "available" parking map that was being used to justify removal of metered parking...Some of the "available" off street parking included the lots of active businesses as well as private lots in such bad disrepair that they were unusable in their current state and would require serious expenditure by the landowner.

God, I've had so many similar experiences looking at consultants' maps of various "available" aspects of my neighborhood. Thinking about the rates they're paid to come up with that so-called information is kinda the icing on the cake.

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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labi said:
God, I've had so many similar experiences looking at consultants' maps of various "available" aspects of my neighborhood. Thinking about the rates they're paid to come up with that so-called information is kinda the icing on the cake.

I think my initial reaction was that the consultants 3 states away stuck their college intern in front of Google maps for 3 hours and had him play color the numbers.

Posted 10 months ago #
bferriot
Galloway
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Could be a simple case of failure to build consensus among the target constituency if cyclists are always complaining about the execution. That is something to consider. Certainly using the same methods again and a again and hearing the same complaints, then pointing fingers at the outspoken won't change anything...

+1

Posted 10 months ago #
phaedrus
Beechwold
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They recently completed a new one in Clintonville/Beechwold in front of the Chipotle about a month or so ago.

I pass by daily and have only noticed one bike utilizing the shelter to date, this was a very small childs bike to boot. I actually still see bikes chained up to the steel tree guards right next to the shelter!

I would agree that the design/cost is a bit overkill for it's purpose and labeling them as a "shelter" is a bit of a stretch. I will say though that they do appear to be constructed very well and seem to be built to last for many many years.

Posted 10 months ago #
local champion

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lifeontwowheels said:
So we're supposed to applaud wasteful spending?

I LOVE what the city installed in OTE. The on street parking is perfect, simple and accomplishes the same exact thing the bike shelters do at an astronomically low cost compared to the shelters. If we go by what Cincinnati spent we could have installed 300-400 on street corrals for the same price as 10 shelters. That's progress worthy of praise.

I actually agree. If bicyclists would rather have bikes on the street like on oak and its cheaper? This seems like a no brainer. Sounds to me like someone in the city throwing one of their friends a contract for 300k.

Posted 10 months ago #
local champion

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And while I share lifeontwowheels sentiment the idea of spending 300k on a bicycle racing track is more insane tuna 300k on the bicycle shelters. How many bicyclists are into racing that much. A bmx ramp place for bicyclists is more appropriate than a racing track.

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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local champion said:
I actually agree. If bicyclists would rather have bikes on the street like on oak and its cheaper? This seems like a no brainer. Sounds to me like someone in the city throwing one of their friends a contract for 300k.

It's interesting when you Google search "city of columbus on street bike corral" vs. "city of columbus bike shelter". Tons of relevant news links for the shelters. Outside of the CU post, nothing on the corrals. Which is really a damn shame since building out a ton of these would do a lot to raise the Columbus cycling profile.

Posted 10 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Do people even know they're called corrals? I'd imagine that they layman term is a more generic "bike parking" that applies to anything that works.

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Walker said:
Do people even know they're called corrals? I'd imagine that they layman term is a more generic "bike parking" that applies to anything that works.

Still nothing searching the layman. But why would you want to publicize a cheaper project that accomplishes the same thing as your expensive and highly publicized project.

Posted 10 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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Folks, I think we've got ourselves a conspiracy theory! ;)

Posted 10 months ago #
byJody
Rural NW Columbus
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The shelters were on the list before I ever started going to the public TPC bike subcommittee, which is where these projects are discussed. I have seen Bill, Cole and Ray there, but not most of the commenters here. They are planning phase 2 of the "bike umbrellas" as I like to call them. Phase one is done, but I'd like to stop phase 2, but I too feel like my input is them saying "yes we got public input" (and then did what we wanted anyway). The city staff is small, I wish they were able to focus on street treatments instead of the shelters that aren't wanted.

2 notes, yes 311 only works in IE.
The Cleveland Velodrome is built by volunteers, not a city project with union labor. If we want a Velodrome do it with individuals, not public $.

Posted 10 months ago #
bferriot
Galloway
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They are planning phase 2 of the "bike umbrellas" as I like to call them. Phase one is done, but I'd like to stop phase 2, but I too feel like my input is them saying "yes we got public input" (and then did what we wanted anyway). The city staff is small, I wish they were able to focus on street treatments instead of the shelters that aren't wanted.

I feel the same way. So what is the proposed date for Phase 2? What do we have to do to get them to take another look at this? Start a petition on change.org?

Posted 10 months ago #
byJody
Rural NW Columbus
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bferriot said:

They are planning phase 2 of the "bike umbrellas" as I like to call them. Phase one is done, but I'd like to stop phase 2, but I too feel like my input is them saying "yes we got public input" (and then did what we wanted anyway). The city staff is small, I wish they were able to focus on street treatments instead of the shelters that aren't wanted.

I feel the same way. So what is the proposed date for Phase 2? What do we have to do to get them to take another look at this? Start a petition on change.org?

That petition is a great idea. You start it and I will sign it! I don't know the date. They canceled this months meeting.

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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byJody said: The shelters were on the list before I ever started going to the public TPC bike subcommittee, which is where these projects are discussed. I have seen Bill, Cole and Ray there, but not most of the commenters here. They are planning phase 2 of the "bike umbrellas" as I like to call them. Phase one is done, but I'd like to stop phase 2, but I too feel like my input is them saying "yes we got public input" (and then did what we wanted anyway). The city staff is small, I wish they were able to focus on street treatments instead of the shelters that aren't wanted. 2 notes, yes 311 only works in IE. The Cleveland Velodrome is built by volunteers, not a city project with union labor. If we want a Velodrome do it with individuals, not public $.

My FT regular hours are 12-8 M-F in addition to working an extra 9-10 in the morning 3 days a week plus 10-24 hours the weeks we have events for Pedal. Instead. Wish I could make the meetings but I tend to be busy.

Posted 10 months ago #
byJody
Rural NW Columbus
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lifeontwowheels said:
My FT regular hours are 12-8 M-F in addition to working an extra 9-10 in the morning 3 days a week plus 10-24 hours the weeks we have events for Pedal. Instead. Wish I could make the meetings but I tend to be busy.

Thanks LOTW - I know you do a great job of getting your input to Tricia Kovacs. Sorry if I pissed you off.

Posted 10 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Not pissed at all. Just reminding everyone that some of us have legit reasons that some can't be at meetings.

Posted 10 months ago #
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
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Last week I saw them installing a covered bike shelter at Broad and Third, right in front of the Chase Bank building. I will definitely tie my bike up there. I also understand that they plan to out some bike lockers at Lynn and High. That would be extra cool.

Posted 8 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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More in a similar spot at Broad & Fourth. These are the ones being done by the SID and not the City, FWIW.

Posted 8 months ago #
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
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Walker said:
More in a similar spot at Broad & Fourth. These are the ones being done by the SID and not the City, FWIW.

Good to know. I wonder what these ones cost.

Posted 8 months ago #