By Thomas Feran, The Plain Dealer
Two-tired Cleveland commuters soon will have a place to rest their bikes and bones.
Regulations taking effect June 16 require secure bicycle racks to be installed at many parking lots and garages in Cleveland, even if they’re not open to the public.
And the Bike Rack — a parking station with showers, lockers and repair services — should open downtown in late summer.
“We’re still early in the process, but the whole idea is to make Cleveland a more bicycle-friendly place,” city Planning Director Robert Brown said.
The regulations, approved by the City Council two years ago, mainly apply downtown because they cover facilities that charge for parking.
The rules require one bicycle space, 2 feet wide and 6 feet long, with a securely anchored bike rack or locker, for every 20 automobile spaces, with a maximum requirement of 24 spots.
Prices vary by style, but a basic rack for two bikes can cost $150.
Regulations don’t require that the spaces be free. But neither Brown nor Steven Brown, head of the Cleveland Parking Association and operations manager of Ampco System Parking, know of anyone planning to charge.
An artistic element will definitely be part of the Bike Rack, which will occupy never-used office space on the ground floor of the city-owned Gateway North Garage, north of Quicken Loans Arena.
Story Compliments Of The Plain Dealer
