Downtown is gaining approximately 325 new bike parking spaces Downtown as the installation of six bike shelters, bike lockers, indoor bike parking rooms and 70 bike racks is completed. The project was made possible through a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant awarded to the city of Columbus through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The project is being executed through a partnership between the City of Columbus and Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District.
“Federal recovery funding has helped our city emerge from the recession and is now assisting our efforts to become one of the best bike cities in the nation,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “These bike shelters and other bike parking encourage more people to ride bikes and make us a greener and healthier city.”
The six new bike shelters are located on the sidewalks near the following intersections:
- East Long Street and North Front Street
- North High Street and Hickory Street
- East Broad Street and North 3rd Street
- East Broad Street and 4th Street
- South High Street and East State Street
- West Mound Street and South Front Street
Each shelter can park 18 bikes covered by a “green roof” topped with drought-tolerant plants that absorb rainwater. The indoor bike rooms are located at the City of Columbus and Franklin County offices. Additional bike racks have been placed strategically throughout all of Downtown. The city of Columbus provided Capital Crossroads with $490,000 to manage the installation of the entire project.
“The bicycle facilities give downtown employees another amenity. We anticipate a large increase in bicycle commuting over the next several years,” said Cleve Ricksecker, Executive Director of Capital Crossroads. “Downtown’s central location and street grid allow it accommodate employers who want to give their employees travel options.”
More information about the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District can be found online at DowntownColumbus.com.
One whole bike parked there in that picture. Now that they’ve gotten downtown bike parking covered (at the expense of dozens more on-street bike parking all over the city in vastly more bike-friendly settings a la Oak & 18th) what about getting to and from points A and B? Doesn’t look like 3rd and Broad have any bike facilities whatsoever, not even some door-zone bike lanes to give the impression that an effort was made.
Here’s a better photo for you, of the same shelter:
http://www.columbusunderground.com/hardy-cyclists-already-utilizing-new-bike-racks-downtown-bw1
Now that’s more like it. I would have thought that the bike lockers would actually be more popular in the winter due to the havoc winter riding does to chains, cassettes, etc, so I was surprised they’re waiting til Spring for more users Snow seems to be blowing right under the shelter towards the bikes though. I’d rather see lots more utilitarian/shelter-less street bike parking or even bike racks instead. Max out bike parking in the inner city and move out into less-friendly areas where they’re seeing or creating demand. Tamarack Circle and whatnot.