Bike Rack Resentment in Ball Square

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Recently, the city put in a new bike rack in Ball Square, occupying a parking spot right in front of Eat at Jumbo's and The Pub. Early this morning, I noticed a handmade sign on the rack that said (paraphrased), "Help us get rid of this bike rack. Please call 311."

I have to assume it is the patrons/operators of The Pub who are most upset because E@J posted a positive message on their Facebook page:

Any one see our city bike rack? 1) its going to hold our new awesome delivery bike that is in the finishing touch of being custom built by Commonwealth Bikes of Medford MA. 2) Our bike customers have prime parking. 3) We honor and sell Bike Benefits Stickers. That can save you money. Pretty cool for 2 wheelers...

Is the loss of a parking spot that big a sore spot? I have to wonder if bikers might be subject to harassment or vandalism.

Comments

[charolastra00.livejournal.com]

While it's really not making all that much of a difference, I know as someone who was disabled for most of the last year (as in not having the strength to walk a block or two from parking but fine once I was sitting), there is a SERIOUS lack of parking for the disabled. That basically means that if you have a handicap that makes it difficult for you to walk, you're SOL and forget about going out unless you spring for a cab. When I see bike racks in former parking spots, I'll admit that it sparks a little bit of rage. But it's not like that would be a handicapped spot anyway, so it's not exactly the best argument.

[cutieperson]

But it's not like that would be a handicapped spot anyway, so it's not exactly the best argument.

as someone who is permanently disabled, i disagree. while not handicapped spots, all of the bike racks are in prime parking spots that make it much easier to get into popular businesses.
i think the bike racks are great in concept, but could have been placed a little more out-of-the-way since if you're capable of biking around town you're probably capable of parking your bike a block from the prime spots and walking the rest of the way.

[annalauwa.livejournal.com]

as a biker, there's a good chance that i might instead try to find a spot squeezed onto the sidewalk, if the bike racks are not in a prime location. that's not to say that i don't sometimes park my bike in a certain location and walk from there (such as around harvard sq), but most of the time i will bike to my destination, and then find the closest spot for my bike.

[annalauwa.livejournal.com]

just to clarify, i am for more parking for disabled patrons, but wanted to add a perspective that might be the rationale for placing bike racks in prime locations

[dilllll.livejournal.com]

That's not necessarily true. When my wife was pregnant, she had a lot of problems walking (I think the baby's head was really far down into her pelvis). However, biking on an upright bike didn't hurt.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

I agree with this, actually. As a biker I would rather walk further than take over such a prime spot, and I would love to see prime spots like that designated for people with handicap stickers. I don't think it would deter people all that much - I bet a lot of people using the Ball Square rack, for example, will actually be there for True Grounds.