Even though gasoline prices seem to have stabilized a bit, we all know that in the face of peak oil, bicycles loom large as an even more viable mode of transport. Here are some examples of various ways that cities are responding to the parking needs of bicycle commuters.
Boston's Bicycle Commuter Parking Cage
At Boston's Alewife train station, two new bicycle parking cages have been built that are completely free. They include security cameras and each holds about 150 bikes, increasing capacity at Alewife to about 500 bikes. Access is gained by running a "Bike Charlie Card" through a scanner.
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Bikestations
Californians may be familiar with Bikestations operating in several cities in your area. Bikestations are secure, covered bicycle parking facilities with either free or paid memberships. Additional services offered at Bikestations are shared-use bicycle rentals, access to public transportation, convenient operating hours (secured access is 24-hours), and other information for trip planning. Some locations even offer repairs, sales and accessories, rentals, and restroom facilities.
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Corrals and Sheltered Oasises
In Portland, two bicycle storage concepts being tested are curb side bicycle corrals and the sheltered extended sidewalk bicycle oasis. Both systems have their pluses and minuses. But the corrals do seem to have an interesting equalizing effect in that bicycles are given space right on the road where cars would normally be parked. It speaks volumes about the attitude of the city toward cyclists as if to say, "yes, you are welcome on our city streets". In the space where only two cars could parallel park, about twenty bicycles can be parked. Even the mayor of Portland, Sam Adams rode his bike to work on Portland's Bike to Work day!
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These are just some examples of ways that cities are making headway toward becoming more bicycle-friendly. Similar developments are in progress in San Francisco and New York City as well as in other towns and cities.
If you know of noteworthy projects please contact us and let us know.
Happy Biking!
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