EDMONTON – The City is continuing its on-street bicycle parking program with new bike corrals in Old Strathcona and the 124 Street area.
“I’m delighted to be able to announce now, for the second year, our project around bike corrals,” said Councillor Ben Henderson. “We did them last year for the first time, in the Old Strathcona area, and they were a huge success.”
2013 bike corral locations include:
- 102 Street just South of Whyte Avenue (Roots on Whyte)
- Whyte Avenue and 104 Street (Starbucks)
- 105 Street just North of Whyte Avenue (Chapters)
- 104 Street just South of 83 Avenue (The Next Act)
A fifth location on 124th Street is expected to be installed by the end of the month.
Both Old Strathcona and the 124 Street see significant vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian traffic. The City says bike corrals can improve the walking environment on busy sidewalks and increase outdoor seating space for restaurants by removing locked bikes from sidewalks.
The on-street bike corrals began as a pilot project in Old Strathcona in 2012.
“Results from our survey in 2012 show that 88 per cent of people surveyed support on-street bike parking,” said Henderson. “We are adding new pilot locations this year based on user requests and consultations with local business associations.”
Now, the City is expanding the program to five locations, three of which are new from last year.
“It’s just a great opportunity to create a space for bikes in an area where there’s really heavy usage so they’re not on the sidewalk anymore and being tied up to everything that’s fixed and keeping space for pedestrians there,” explained Henderson.
He says the City is looking for input from the public as to where the need for on-street bike parking locations is.
“We need to find out the areas in town where there’s real demand and real use. We’re not putting them in just for the heck of it, we’re putting them in where there’s huge demand for them.”
While some expressed concerns over parking availability, the pilot survey showed that over 80 per cent of people support exchanging bike parking for motor vehicle parking in high traffic areas.
“Bike corrals accommodate up to 16 bikes in the same space as one vehicle,” said Henderson. “The goal is to create a more pedestrian friendly environment in these areas by providing alternate parking facilities.”
The City is seeking public feedback about the pilot locations and their usability. You can weigh in here .
“I think we’ll keep on refining program based on the feedback we get and we’ve love to get that, and hopefully, this will be a permanent program.”
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