balto charlie

Hey folks: There will be bike valet parking at Baltimore Artscape this year. If you have ever been to Artscape you know what a pain parking a car can be. You will be able to leave your bike in a safe environment. We are also looking for volunteers to help. Below is the info I received. Hope some can help or take advantage of this service.
Thanks Charlie

"Artscape 2010 is fast approaching! Last year we had over 700 BIKES parked at the UB Plaza. This year, we expect even more!
Let’s build on last year’s success and make 2010 even better!

All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and receive free parking, cool thank you gifts, access to the air-conditioned volunteer "lounge" and snacks. Plus, you get to hang out with other cyclists, make sure their rides don't get stolen and promote the growing bike community in Baltimore

Shifts are available on:
Friday, July 16th 11:30-4:00; 3:30-7; 6:30-10:00
Saturday, July 17th 3:30-7:00; 6:30-10
Sunday, July 18th 11:30-4; 3:30-8:00
Join the Artscape Team by signing up at www.myvolunteerpage.com or contact Debbie Zink at 443-263-4307
Registration for all volunteers closes on Friday, July 2nd"

gcottay

Is this literally valet parking or rather the offer of secure parking?

Roody

We usually have valet bike parking for festivals and events in my area also. They park the bike for you, in a little fenced area, and have people watching it the whole time. The sight of it makes other attendees see how much easier, cheaper and more convenient it is to ride a bike.

Also valet parking makes you feel special.

gcottay

Do they ride away on your bike or politely and gently walk it to the secure location with the bike never leaving your sight?

I'm all for the secure areas, but might cry at the sight of a "valet" riding my bike into the sunset.

Roody

Here they walk your bike into the "corral".

balto charlie

No one rides your ride. Just walk it over to a rack in a secure location.

Seattle Forrest

I rode by the base of the Space Needle the other day, and saw a valet waiting for work, so I asked how much it would cost to have my bike parked. "For you, no charge." Bikes are fun.

Does the bike valet parking encourage more people to bike in? Whenever parking is a mess because of some festival, it means traffic will also be horrid, and cycling is probably the most convenient way to get there. So for there to be bike valets outside of my own sarcasm, can only be a good thing.

Roody

I can't think of anything that would encourage cycling more.

ro-monster

A lot of big events around here have valet bike parking, and every time I have seen it, it's been filled to capacity. So it looks like it is encouraging people to ride.

Digital_Cowboy

I've gotta say that I would like it if more businesses took the needs of their cycling customers more seriously and offered either valet parking or at the very least a covered and secured parking area.

balto charlie

The more people bike, the more businesses will meet their needs. Unfortunately it is not the "build it and they will come" mentality. More like...uh here they come, where we gonna put them. Things in Baltimore are finally changing. While bikes don't dot the landscape like Portland or Montreal they are becoming more numerous. We actually have a bike planner that is very active. I have high hopes but know that change is always slow.

balto charlie

I thought I would bump this to remind folks of the bike valet parking this weekend at Artscape. The parking will be at the UB Plaza on the corner of Maryland Ave.and Mt Royal Ave.

Hope many of you folks can take advantage of this offer. Thanks, Charlie

balto charlie

Sorry folks, next weekend
July 16-18