Bike Station (capitalized) is a company that does planning for and management or bicycle parking structures - which many people call generically bike stations (lower case.)
Think of a bike station as a parking ramp for bikes, although it is usually much more than that. Bike stations often contain lockers and/or showers, some have bike repair and/or small retail components (locks, lights, tubes, etc.), may have bike information such as maps or directions. Most require that you are a member to park your bike there. Some allow the public to park during the day, but members get 24/7/365 access via a pin code or key chain fob. There are large and small, some privately run by for-profit bike shops, some run by the city or county, some run by non-profits. Bike stations have advantages over just racks on the street because they are more secure and protected from the elements. Obviously, if they have lockers and showers, that's a big bonus. In many cities, they act as hubs for information, and some even provide space for classes or lectures. Many of us have been trying to get the City to include a bike station in whatever structure will replace the Government East parking ramp and/or Municipal Bldg parking lot. (There is a planning process for a number of elements that likely will be put on these two blocks.) Bike stations work best where there is both great transit access and a large employment base in proximity. The buses coming into the Capital Square, plus the GEF Blgs and other large office buildings around the Square make the above location a good candidate for a bike station. it would have been even better with the intercity rail and maybe commuter rail, but even as it is now, it would work just fine. I have a report mostly written that reviews the Washington, DC Bike Station and gives some ideas of what we can learn from that operation. It also suggests what should be included in a needs assessment, so we can figure out which elements should be included in a Madison bike station. I'll post it when I finish writing it. Robbie Webber On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 3:01 PM, Robert F. Nagel <[email protected]>wrote: > What is the bike station project? What does it cost? > > On 8/12/11, Robbie Webber <[email protected]> wrote: > > Just as I was about to post my email to the Mayor's office to Bikies, > this > > came through from Anne Monk's, Soglin's staff on transportation issues: > > > > The Mayor’s blog has been corrected. The bike station is part of the > block > > 88/105 study now starting. The draft 2012 capital budget included > dollars > > for design of the bike station. There has been some discussion about > > whether it was possible those dollars would be needed in 2012. That is > the > > origin of the reference.**** > > > > ** ** > > > > Any questions let me know.**** > > > > ** ** > > > > Anne > > > > Robbie Webber > > > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 2:23 PM, Amanda White <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > >> Hello, > >> > >> I was surprised to read Mayor Soglin's Blog today which states his > intent > >> to cancel the downtown bike station project. He states it almost as an > >> afterthought while providing examples of projects that are being cut in > >> his > >> revised 2011 Capital Budget that will go to Council in the next couple > >> weeks. I spoke to one alder who was very surprised to hear this news. > This > >> alder told me that he did not recall the bike station being a part of > >> discussions on budget revision. > >> > >> I will get more information over the next few days and keep you posted. > >> Until then PLEASE COME TO THE MEETING ON THE 16TH! Now more than ever > it's > >> important that we show Mayor Soglin that bicycling is important. > >> > >> Community Budget Conversation > >> August 16 > >> 7 - 9pm > >> Madison Senior Center (330 W. Mifflin Street) > >> > >> Thanks, > >> Amanda > >> ________________________ > >> Amanda White > >> Associate Director > >> Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin > >> (608) 251-4456 > >> [email protected] > >> www.bfw.org > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Bikies mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >> > >> > > > > -- > Sent from my mobile device > > --- > Robert F. Nagel > [email protected] > www.nagel-law.com > Thirty on the Square, 10th Floor > 30 W. Mifflin St., Suite 1001 > Madison, WI 53703 > 608-255-1501 office > 608-255-1504 fax > 608-438-9501 cell >
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