Downtown cyclists will find many more places to lock up this fall following the installation of 195 new, black U-racks care of the DowntownDC BID in partnership with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Throughout the summer, contractors from BicycleSPACE will arrive by bicycle at targeted sites between 11th and 16th streets NW in DowntownDC, towing U-racks, tools and all the equipment necessary to perform an installation. After securing four concrete anchors into the ground, each new bike rack, with the capacity to lock two cycles, will be installed for all to use.
This summer’s installation, which spans from July through September, comprises the second phase of a three-year plan to double the number of bike racks in the DowntownDC BID’s 138-block area.
In 2013, 145 racks were installed between 6th and 11th streets as part of the plan’s first phase and the third phase will be carried out next year east of 6th Street.
As cycling has grown in popularity as a means for commuting, the DowntownDC BID has been working with DDOT to increase bike parking. The BID met with property owners and stakeholders in each area to properly assess bike rack placement and volume. Each U-shaped rack can accommodate two bikes.
The BID is planning to also add four in-street bike parking corrals to Downtown this year. Each corral utilizes an area equivalent to one vehicle parking space to provide parking for 10 bicycles. Five in-street corrals currently exist in DowntownDC.
In addition to supporting cycling as a means of transportation, bicycle parking also supports quality public spaces. When bikers have a dedicated place to lock up, it reduces the number of bikes locked to miscellaneous objects such as trash cans, street signs and parking meters, helping to keep our sidewalks clear for pedestrians. This issue is of increased importance as the demands for outdoor public space grows due to increased foot traffic, sidewalk cafes and other uses of public space.
The DowntownDC BID also continues to support Capital Bikeshare’s efforts to provide short-term bike rentals throughout the BID, where they currently operate 24 stations. Capital Bikeshare is in discussions to increase the capacity of several stations in Downtown.