Brian

Pandering to you guys here.

Well, not really. But since I'm trying to weave a bit more advocacy into my blog, I thought this was relevant. Regardless of my own personal efforts to reduce the use of motor vehicles, I will still use my position in the industry to promote cycling as much as possible. And if I come across anything at Interbike that the LCF crowd might be interested in, I'll post it here.

Platy

Apparently El Paso requires new businesses to provide X number of car parking spaces. The argument is whether to additionally require businesses to provide bike parking.

I wonder what would happen if they simply changed their city code to allow businesses to credit a bike rack toward satisfying the requirement to provide parking spaces. That could help small businesses that serve mostly walk-in (or bike-in) customers. For example, near universities.

Brian

Yes, but the issue is really about their level of commitment.

[edit] or lack thereof.

bpohl

Yeah, while I agree with your sentiment, at least it's something. Most cities (~90%) have NO required bicycle parking. Almost all cities (>99.9%) that have zoning have required car parking. For the record, Indy has no required bicycle parking.

Platy

Political bodies and other committees aren't capable of commitment. There is only the balancing of interests and what compromises are possible. Half a loaf is better than none.

bpohl

I think that's a fantastic idea. I should pitch this with my proposed parking maximums. My god, I'd probably lose my job, but it makes so much sense. The market really drives how much parking places want to provide. Really, if there isn't enough parking, auto-oriented people will just go elsewhere. In some areas of Indy, we have constant variances that we have to deal with because petitioners have NO WAY of providing as much parking as the Ordinance requires. Citing obvious practical difficulties, we routinely grant these with very little hulabaloo about them. It would seem to me that if you allowed bicycle parking to count towards your parking requirement, you could cut down on an extra level of red tape and unneeded variances from the Ordinance. Furthermore, since these are frequently in areas that are well-trafficked by bicycles, it would make even more sense.

Thanks, Platy! I'm soooo pitching this...

Brian

In this case, I think the loaf is something other than bread...

bpohl

I wish you weren't right on the money...

Platy

I deserved that

Brian

According to the past president of the California State Parking Association, it cost an average of $15k to put in a single parking space. (This was in 1996, but the actual amount today is not critical) If you can fit a rack holding 5-10 bikes in one parking space, and be given a credit towards car spaces, that's a savings of probably $100k in today's dollars.

The downside is that first we have to change people's perceptions of cyclists.

Brian

Donna was kind enough to point out the very high rate of type 2 diabetes amongst Mexicans in Texas. I lost a friend to complications last year, but I know his kids won't be headed in that direction.

JunkyardWarrior

i wasnt sure where to post this but this looks like a good place. i wont mention the banks name (unless im allowed to, lol). so not too long ago my bank changed ownership, fine whatever. the new bank is advertizing with bikes. bright green bikes everywhere. so i ask the teller one day.....wheres the bike rack?. we giggle and she agrees it funny they dont have one

ok so a week or two goes by and i see a commercial on tv for my new bank. everyone going to the bank is on a bright green bike. im thinkin cool. so the lady on the bike gets to the bank and i see a bright green bike rack. also cool. then the lady gets off the bike and hands it off to a guy coming out of the bank and he rides off with it.

im thinkin.....what about the bike rack?...its empty

so yesterday im at another branch and i ask the teller where the bike rack is and get more giggles. i think im gunna have to inquire with the managers directly. cuz id really like to ride my bike to the bank and have somewhere to lock it up. perferably in front of a camera

my bike is even bright green

just sayin

Brian

If you do contact the branch manager, let us know how it goes. My bank put in new drive-up windows, but left the old one that's directly behind the tellers. It makes a convenient place to park my motorcycle in the shade. If people actually rode bicycles here, I'd suggest a bike rack.

cadillacmike68

I wish they's stop making the parking spaces smaller. It's getting so that my Fleetwood is bigger than the parking spaces.

Platy

From the Regions Bank Merger Information website:

Reflecting the reliability and simplicity customers seek, Regions has created a new marketing campaign that uses a bicycle image in its ads, billboards and other materials. The cruiser bicycle, painted Regions life-green, reminds consumers of the uncomplicated reliability they seek from their bank.

Advertising outfits get paid big bucks to figure out consumer psychology.

Very interesting to me that to those people a bicycle symbolizes "uncomplicated reliability".

Yeah, if anyone needs to install bike racks, it's those guys. They should also let bikes use the drive through tellers!

Platy

Just take up as many parking spaces as you think you need. No one will care.

Brian

As far as I'm aware, Cadillacs are only for pimps, drug dealers, and old folks. What's the demographic on Fleetwood owners - 70+?

wethepeople

I drove my grandpas Deville to work a few days ago.

It felt good.

JunkyardWarrior

I decided to just ride to the bank on my bike....the branch i go to had 2 businesses in the same building with a glassed in lobby connecting them so i coasted past the no skating, skateboards, bicycles, ect. sign...... opened the door and walked my bike right into the lobby and leaned it on the wall. Didnt bother to lock it up or anything, figured it was on cam so it should be safe and the green color might make it blend in and look like part of the advertizing.

nobody said a word

thats the only branch like that and luckily enuff its also the closest to me.....all the tellers already know me so i doubt there will be a problem. If anyone gives me a problem i'll bring up the 'no bike rack' issue and tell them id be happy to lock it up outside if there was an on cam bike rack near the door.

PDay

You havent seen my university. Parking is horrendous here.

bpohl

Parking is and should be horrendous at most universities.

Roody

Most universities shouldn't even have parking. Or rather, the parking should be on the edge of campus and there should be some kind of electric people mover to transport the few people who can't walk or ride a bike.

PDay

That would be incredibly expensive, my school cant even effeciently run a shuttle from satellite parking to campus.

TRaffic Jammer

i take my bike right into the branch and have never heard a peep out of them.

Roody

I assume you would charge people to use the people mover system. Also, do you have any idea how expensive it is to build and maintain a parking lot?