The City is actually planning for a new intermodal station in that general area - intercity bus, local bus, car parking, and ?? bike parking ??
There is already a contract to study what configuration of things will go on those two blocks. It's not a question of whether there is going to be a study, just whether they are going to consider a bike station as one of possible elements. The cost of any of the elements is one of the things the study will look at. Obviously, a bike station with more bells and whistles - retail, showers, bicycle info kiosk - will cost more than one that is just parking. One purpose of the study is to figure out which pieces make sense for that location. Likely to be included in the new development - all of which will be part of the study: * new hotel * 1400 car spaces underground - partly to replace Gov East space, some probably private * ground-level retail and/or office above parking - maybe including city offices * intermodal station * bike station? Not all members of bike stations bike to work. Some people actually get into town via a non-bike mode, but want a bike while they are downtown. Having a secure (not likely to be stripped or vandalized overnight) place to park their bike would be a great service. Not everyone wants to pay $100+/month just to shower or change clothes, so health clubs really don't cut it for those biking to work (if they feel they need to shower and change.) And even in the ramps, your bike is still exposed to possible theft - either of your bike or the stuff on it. I know plenty of people that wish they had a truly secure place to park their bike - where they didn't have to strip off all the loose or valuable things: lights, panniers, seats, etc. No one is forcing anyone to use the bike station. If you don't feel it is needed, then you don't have to use it. There are many models for how they are financed and managed. Maybe it will be entirely private. Would you pooh-pooh building more offices or apartments, because you think there are adequate ones already? Or a new restaurant? Or a private car parking lot? OK, now I could certainly argue that the City should get out of the public car parking game, but most people still accept that. This new two-block development will probably stand for 50 years or more. Isn't it worth it to put a little effort into figuring out how to accommodate ALL modes of transportation, instead of just cars? Robbie Webber On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 4:08 PM, Robert F. Nagel <[email protected]>wrote: > You didn't say what it would cost, or what the study for it would cost. > > At the risk of being an infidel, without the train station or intermodal > station, this project really doesn't make a lot of sense. The existing > parking garages have bike racks in them if you want your bike to be somewhat > protected. I rarely see more than a bike or two in those racks. There are > half a dozen or so bike shops more or less downtown to satisfy your retail > needs. If taking a shower is important, you can join one of the health clubs > downtown, or use the recreational facilities at the university. I can't > imagine people flocking to this facility to park their bikes for the day if > it's more than half a block from where they work. Assuming bikies need to > prioritize, too, should this really be a priority? > > --- > 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 > > > On Fri, Aug 12, 2011 at 3:14 PM, Robbie Webber <[email protected]>wrote: > >> 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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