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Over the course of the past year, Columbus Underground has played an active role in soliciting suggestions for bike rack locations in and around the downtown area. Many of them were implimented successfully and there’s still an ongoing discussion for where more bike racks are needed.
Looking beyond the standard U-shaped racks though… what’s next for bike parking? The following video (below) from Portland showcases two different types of bike parking solutions: on-street “corrals” that resemble our scooter parking zones, and a bike parking “oasis” that is placed on a curb-side bumpout that also contains a rain shelter and area maps. Do these look like potential solutions that Columbus could adapt for some of our more heavily-trafficked bike parking zones that require more than just a handful of racks?
Gay Street needs something like the bike oasis
That could be very nice to have something like they showed with area maps once a lot of the planned bike paths/routes are finished.
The problem is Columbus mentality. The villagers freak when we mention rail, imagine any proposal that would spend money on upping bike racks or-gasp-taking away one or two parking spaces to park 15-20 bikes.
Of course I love the idea and I’m pretty sure it’ll get done. I like the video of the space created from existing parking. I think I mentioned a Gay street concept after Park(ing) Day last year.
But we’re already spending money on bike racks. And I’m pretty sure we’ve got the funds built into the recently passed bond package to build more. Some new curb bumpouts were just installed along 4th street through Italian Village a few years ago, which took up previous curbside parking space. I don’t recall a whole lot of opposition to it then, but perhaps I’m over looking something.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that these aren’t unrealistic ideas. Every idea is going to have some form of opposition. There’s no magical cure all for these types of issues that 100% of the public is going to be on board for.
I think trying to place any blame on “the Columbus mentality” is a cop out. There’s no groupthink going on behind issues such as this. People have individual reasons for either being supportive or opposed to these types of ideas. Work with them. Educate them. Make progress. Just don’t act like you’re The Fresh Prince and everyone else is your parents who just don’t understand.
I could have phrased it better. Those bond issues were passed when things were half way decent. I worry for the next few years, depending on how the national economy and how the state and local financial situations play out and the effect at the polls. We have a tendency, American Society in general, to throw the bums out when things get worse-no matter if the blame is deserved. If we were to see something similar in the next few election cycles, it could place a lot of these good things on the back burner.
I’ve been calling for covered bike parking. Hopefully they’ll do a bit of that here and there. There are already plenty of places for bikes to lock up, now they just have to make some roads friendlier so that more people will use them. What’s the point in a bike rack on a street like High in Clintonville if you’ll get run over on the way there? Bikes belong on city roads and have the legal right to be there. Hope the city will do more than erect a sign to address that issue.
man that “oasis” looks sweet
I will say I am actually surprised with some of the places I have found bike parking.
The Columbus Library has a rack in their garage.
I don’t see the point of dedicated covered bike parking. How is that philosophically different from the hated parking garage?
I would prefer the on street parking over the covered. I don’t see the need for covered biking parking. If you keep the chain oiled, a plastic bag handy and keep good care of the bike the rain won’t hurt it. I would rather see the money go to more useful projects.
I would be curious if any of our local businesses would “sponsor”* the parking space concept.
(* basically support a 20 bike rack in a former parking space.)
I don’t really see the demand for on-street parking for bikes. I have never had trouble finding a rack anywhere. Maybe somewhere on campus could support this, but I think Columbus does a good job of providing bike racks.
I would, however, be interested in how the dynamics of the car-bicycle relationship changes if you put in some on-street parking for bikes. I think it could possibly encourage more people to bike by making it more mainstream and put bikes on equal footing.
I guess it’s worth a shot because it can’t cost very much to put up some pylons and block off a spot. You’d just lose the meter revenue for that space.
Very awesome. Hope Columbus and the burbs catch on to this.
I’d support test versions of both to see if they work and are used. I have concerns about the covered oasis, since rain in Ohio often comes with decent wind, and looking at the Oasis as designed it looks like bikes would still get quite wet and riders wouldn’t be able to wait out a storm at the oasis either. But maybe a design tweak would eliminate that.
I think the map & information aspect of the Oasis is a great idea and would be very helpful. The vandalism rate for information signs seems very high (based upon the Cota timetables which were attached to bus-stops and often trashed), so any budget would have to account for this continuing cost.
As for full bicycle racks, I went to the Huntington Center across from the Statehouse on Friday, 3:45pm, and I could not see a single bike rack in sight looking up & down High St. I did find one tucked around a corner of the Huntington building and it was completely full. I’ll post a suggestion on the bikerack location thread, but bikrack visability (like the Oasis and corrals) would help promote cycling by showing both that facilities exist and cycling is a priority recognized by the city.
Just checked, Huntington location was already posted on the rack-location thread.
Just lock to the meters, then you have bike parking on just about every downtown street. The Statehouse has a few bike racks as well, by the steps on the 1800′s building. They look like old hitching posts. Never had an issue “parking” there. I think Pearl Alley has a few spots, as does Gay St.
The on-street bike parking areas would be great in locations where there is significant demand and little room for bike racks. The YMCA in Downtown comes to mind. The sidewalk is already filled with bike racks that get used often daily so there’s not room for more racks.
There are also several areas going north on High Street where the sidewalk gets narrow. There’s likely the demand in some specific places in the Short North and North Campus.
Did you know you request Bike Racks to be placed by the city?
It is one of the service choices on the 311 service, as long as there is a place to put it in the city right of way.
http://311.columbus.gov/