Sidewalk Cafes vs. Bike Parking
![image-2 ABOVE: Bike secured to railing outside Flannery's](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/image-2.jpeg)
I’ve posted before about St. Louis needing much more bike parking so that patrons don’t need to secure their bikes to parking meters, sign posts or railings. When I spotted this bike locked to the railing in front of Flannery’s Pub I thought, “wait a minute, this is one of the few areas where we do have bike parking!” Â Did the racks get removed? Â No, not quite, they are still there — somewhere.
![photo-4 ABOVE: Public bike rack hidden behind cafe tables & advertising](http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/photo-4.jpg)
Oh there is one, buried among Flannery’s cafe furniture and advertising. Â Not exactly a usable bike rack, is it? Â I’m a huge fan of sidewalk dining — I love the excitement it can bring to the sidewalk. Â When I’m out I often see people I know dining outdoors, including at Flannery’s. But the restaurants must realize they don’t own the public sidewalk in front of their establishments. They must respect others using the sidewalk — including bicyclists trying to secure their bikes.
– Steve Patterson
I've been considering adding a basket to my bike for groceries. I scouted a bikable way to the store, but when I got there, I discovered no bike racks. Oh well, secure it to a tall sign I guess. *understanding the frustration*
Yes, people will bike for errands but they need a place to secure their bike. Bike parking should be out front, not hidden somewhere, be able to support a bike that lacks a kick stand, and enable the cyclist to lock their bike frame/wheels in two places.
If a business isn't responsive to a complaint about obstructing the bike rack, I think they ought to be fined by the city. There's no sense spending all the money for a downtown bike commute center if bikes are always going to be treated as afterthoughts.
I agree with Jennifer. Businesses, I assume, are not allowed to block parking spots with tables and chairs, and they shouldn't block bike parking. And, to reiterate what Jen said, if we are going to invest in a bike commuter station and a Bike Master Plan, not to mention the Greenways, we have to treat bicycling as a mode of transportation with its own infrastructure needs.
Many times over the past year plus, I've locked my bike on that rack. I have to move that table, but it still works. And the people at Flannery's have never given me a hard time about it. Still, your fundamental point stands.
Some good point written.
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