Bicycling

Change car parking to bike parking, suggests Georgetown bike shop

by David Alpert   •   December 12, 2008 2:49 pm

According to this week's Current (article, continuation), the CycleLife bike shop on K Street in Georgetown has suggested replacing two on-street parking spaces (holding one car each) with bike racks (holding about 20 bikes each). There isn't enough space on that sidewalk for bike racks.

On-street spaces used for bike parking on a very DC-like street in Montreal. Photo by Aaron Naparstek.

"Bike parking in Georgetown is notoriously terrible," said WABA Executive Director Eric Gilliland. "There are few places to lock up properly. People avoid Georgetown because of this." The Georgetown ANC endorsed the plan last week, and now it's up to DDOT's Public Space Committee. Portland, New York, and other cities have transformed car parking spaces into bicycle parking.

According to the article, DDOT is also strongly considering a SmartBike station at 31st and K, though as always, they have no actual timeline for expansion. Tip: Ben Thielen.

David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington. He has had a lifelong interest in great cities and great communities. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.