On-street bike parking needed
A bike corral is just the sort of high-visibility action that would put New Haven on the map as a bicycle-friendly city.
Mark Abraham suggested that the area in front of Au Bon Pain on York Street would be an ideal location and I agree.
From Mark Abraham:
“A ‘bike corral’ would be great to have at the NW corner of Elm and York. What’s great is that it could help pedestrians, too.
The curb at the NW corner should be extended to reduce the crossing distances across York, similar to what was done on the SW side during the mid-1990s rebuilding of Broadway.
A curb extension would significantly slow the traffic that currently flies around the corner, endangering pedestrians. A shorter distance would also make the street easier to cross.
Just past that, in front of ABP, could be a perfect spot for a corral. Currently, there is a lack of bicycle parking in this area, and bikes tied to meters reduce the space available for pedestrians on what is a very busy sidewalk.”
Gets Comments
What about a bike corral just a block farther up Elm Street, by Park St? It's a nice space, and Elm Street by there is right by the start of where it begins to be the preferred bike route downtown.
A bike corral is also needed here: http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/134538-no-bike-parking-at-chocopologie
Would the on street bike parking also have to pay meters? How much will the city of new haven charge for towing of bikes during street sweeping and snow removal? Will they also receive traffic tickets?
Philadelphia has installed a temporary "bike corral" as part of International Park(ing) Day. It will be there for six weeks.
http://blog.bicyclecoalition.org/2011/09/bikes-only-park-here.html
Maybe New Haven can do this for next year's Park(ing) Day.
This place was packed with bicycles today. I saw several people having difficulty finding bike parking.
A bike corral would help solve this problem and encourage economic development in the area.
Would a bike corral near Claire's or Atticus on Chapel Street work? I'm sure that one there would fill up.
Acknowledged By the Transportation, Traffic and Parking Department.
I don't think the entire block is a loading zone, given the parking meters all along it.
Blue State would be perfect if not for the fact that parking was moved to the other side of the street when Silliman College was renovated. The foreign language departments located above Blue State also generate very high demand for bike parking. The parking meters and signs on the opposite side of the street are often completely full.
Nica's has serious issues with loading/unloading in front of their business, but it's worth checking with them: they do have tractor trailers (16 wheelers) make deliveries though, so it seems impractical. Perhaps Blue State? They have a relatively low-traffic street...
I hate to rain on my own parade, but this is a loading zone.
Perhaps Nica’s on Orange Street or Fuel on Chapel Street would be a better location. Could anyone out there who regularly frequents either of these establishments put in a word as to whether on-street bike parking would be worth pursuing at either Nica’s or Fuel?
Columbia, Missouri's first bicycle corral.
http://bikeportland.org/2009/10/06/on-street-bike-parking-coming-to-downtown-vancouver/