City Rolling Out ‘Bike Racks for Businesses’ Initiative

The city began to roll out its Bike Master Plan last year; officials are now looking to expand the program to more businesses.

The whole idea is to establish bicycling as a “main means of transportation” in Lakewood.

That means that residents can expect to see more of those U-shaped, blue bike racks dotting the city’s commercial corridors — with an emphasis on Madison Avenue.

The city rolled out its first run of the bike rack program last year, with about 20 participating businesses.

This year, there will be around two-dozen new racks in the city — at about $100 cost to businesses. The city will pick up the tab for shipping and installation.

Businesses are encouraged to act fast: the city will accept the first 25 qualifying applicants by the May 3 deadline.

City planner Jason Russell, relatively new to the post, said that the first “action step” of the Master Bike Plan outlines the expansion of the supply of bike racks around the city. 

“Ranked No. 1 in cycling commuters among municipalities under 100,000 people in Ohio, it is important to accommodate the established and growing ridership with appropriate infrastructure – which includes bike racks,” Russell said.  

“Our Bike Rack for Business Program allows business owners to provide convenient and safe bike parking to their customers, and based on the positive response from this program last year, we decided to continue this year.”

Russell said that the Bike Rack for Business Program is “one component of our vision to establish bicycling as a main means of transportation.”

One of the key takeaways from a 2011 bike study was that in Lakewood, biking is kind of a big deal. 

“It’s how people get around,” Dru Siley, the director of planning and development, told Lakewood Patch last year. “We have so many folks who ride as transportation. There (are) recreational riders, people who ride to run errands, and there’s commuter riders.”

The city has some lofty goals, with regard to biking in Lakewood. The long-term plan, Siley said, is to become one of the most bike-friendly communities in the state  — as well as North America. 

For more information — including some details about customized racks — check out the brochure attached at the right. Or check out the complete Bike Master Plan, also attached.