With gas prices expected to hit record highs this summer, many people will leave their cars at home and take to the streets on their bikes, but with an increase of bikers on the road, there will be a need to increase bicycle parking.
In an effort to address the lack of parking spaces on State Street, the Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission reviewed data gathered by Arthur Ross, pedestrian and bicycle coordinator for the City of Madison. Ross collected information on how many spaces are provided and how many spaces are actually being used.
\On the 500 and 600 blocks [of State Street], there is an under-capacity of bike racks and an overcapacity of bikes,"" Ross said. ""It's more of a problem the further down State Street you go.""
With this information in mind, the commission agreed Tuesday night to forward its meeting minutes and all gathered statistics and data on bicycle parking to the State Street Design Oversight Committee and recommend that it will consider the issue.
""We need to urge the city agencies and commissions involved to think creatively to provide bicycle parking,"" said Ald. Robbie Webber, District 5.
Although several parking options are currently provided by retailers, restaurants and landlords, those who need to park their bikes for long periods of time often make it difficult for bikers looking for a temporary place to park while they shop or eat on State Street.
""People who are there for eight or 10 hours a day have to park in the places provided for the shoppers,"" Webber said. ""We should look at providing long- term parking.""
Also discussed was the issue of how to enforce parking in the proposed additional bike racks.
Ald. Judy Compton, District 16, proposed the need for stronger enforcement for illegal bike parking in an effort to encourage people to park in designated parking spots.
Webber suggested including bike racks in parking ramps and having bike lockers to keep parked bikes safer in hopes it will encourage people to continue riding their bikes.
Susan Schmitz, president of Downtown Madison Inc., said ""We need to start looking at what other cities have done-this is something we should have thought of already. It's all such good stuff for building a good downtown.\
