HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-14-2017 Akers - Cost of Bike Parking
Purrington, Teresa
From:Steve Akers <
Sent:Wednesday, December 13, 2017 6:40 PM
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:BAC communication
Esteemed members of the SLO Active Transportation Committee,
I can’t attend the 12/14/2017 meeting so I’m writing today to comment and ask questions about the direction and cost of bike parking,
specifically in downtown SLO.
Currently, from feedback we’ve received at Bike SLO County from downtown businesses, the process to request additional bike racks
or bike corrals can be a little confusing. It is admittedly a complicated practice, with numerous hurdles to clear: Do the racks or corral
interfere with garbage collection? Are they on an arterial? Will the Downtown Association approve? For big installations, will the ARC
approve? Will the businesses on both sides of the street approve? Will the Council/Department heads agree? etc...
While for bike corrals this info does exist in City of SLO Resolution 10139 (2009 Series), it still isn’t as clear as it could be. I think that
the creation of a streamlined form in easily understandable non-resolution language, online and on paper, that educates and walks
requestors through the application process for corrals and sidewalk racks would do much to increase bike parking opportunities
downtown in places where the public and business owners feel a need. I ask that you investigate the possibilities of easing this
process.
If you’re curious about what such a form might look like, the one created by the City of Berkeley may be worth taking
at:https://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Public_Works/Level_3_-
_Transportation/Bike%20Corral%20Application%20Maintenance%20Agreement%20Design%20Guide.pdf
Additionally, another barrier can be the cost to business owners. An 8-Unit rack will cost the requesting business $1,588, even though
all nearby businesses will benefit. I’m interested to hear the details about the in-lieu fee program distributing the financial responsibility
more equally. With the city of SLO hoping to increase mode share for bicycles, it seems backwards to ask local businesses to be
responsible for direct funding of bicycle parking that benefits everyone.
Again, it may help to consider the model of the city of Berkeley which receives grant funding from an org similar to our SLO APCD (and
money from a local tax measure) and is able to provide bike corrals and bike racks at no charge to requestors as funds become
available: https://www.cityofberkeley.info/bikerackfundingandtimeline/
Thank you for your consideration and your hard work to make SLO a better place to walk and bike,
Steve Akers
PS: The City website still calls you the BAC.
SteveAkers
CommunicationsDirectorandLeagueCyclingInstructor
BikeSLOCounty
steve@bikeslocounty.org
805.547.2055
bikeslocounty.org
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