Methuen needs bike racks
We really need bike racks, this is getting dangerous.
When I stopped, the boys ran out to be in the picture, and they agreed – we need bike racks.
Posts Tagged ‘ bike racks ’
Methuen Needs Bike Racks
just another day in Downtown Methuen
Why is Methuen hostile to bikes?
That’s it. In a nutshell. It is not that Methuen doesn’t care about people on bikes, as a community we don’t seem to WANT people on bikes. Obviously not on the roads, as any biker can tell you of close calls with scary cars and broken curbstones, but they don’t even want to just let bikers ‘BE’.
In celebration of today’s Bike to Work day or week or whatever they hell it is, I figured I’d do what I could and use my bike to do a bit of shopping over at Twaites. (I am still not brave enough to try to go so far as Stop and Shop or Demoulas.) I got across Gaunt Square easy peasy and decided to take our lovely scenic bridge and skip the challenge that is Five Corners. And THAT’s when I almost took a header on this lovely freaking surprise. The morons at Mill Falls Apartment took their damaged and never installed bike rack from the parking lot and tossed it onto the bridge. If I weren’t going so slowly I wouldn’t be typing to you now, I’d be sitting somewhere with a gash on my head wondering what the hell just happened.
Now I know they don’t WANT a bike rack there else they would have one that was properly installed and wasn’t dented by snow plows, but simply shoving it out of the way like this is irresponsible.
Nevertheless I DID make it to Twaites and took a little side trip to Mexico Lindo to pick up a few noshes. Ignoring the fact that as a city we have about 7 bike racks to our name. (45 thousand people 7 bike racks..go figure) But I did have a nicely bloodless trip.
Now I need to find some removable panniers if I am going to do this kind of thing on a regular basis. Cause right now I am wishing I had stopped at Rostens and bought a few beers. So I can sulk in silence. Is it just too much to ask why we don’t like BIKES here?
bike racks, lack thereof
just another reminder that Methuen needs bike racks.
just a little reminder about bike racks
that downtown is sorely lacking in bike racks.
Bike Rack Census
For a few weeks I drove around town and inventoried bike racks in the city.
This is what I found:
Results of Bike Rack Census
There is not enough municipal or privately provided bicycle parking in Methuen to support the present level of cycling in the area. Proper parking for bicycles should be provided at all municipal facilities and encouraged through out the local business community.
Available Bike Parking as of Sept 1, 2008
With models starting at $300, bicycles are an expensive investment either for transportation or recreation. They should be locked securely to a stationary object in plain view. Many modern ‘road’ bikes do not have kickstands and must be leaned against a solid object when not in use.
Methuen Residents who wish to use their bicycle for in town errands are forced to chain their bicycle to the nearest suitable object, be it a tree, railing, or trash can. Allowing for obvious increases in alternate transportation and bicycle usage, cyclists may find themselves at odds with property owners, not to mention an increase in thefts.
PUBLIC:
There are no bike racks at municipal buildings. The few public bike racks extant are those installed with newly constructed facilities such as Veterans Park or Riverwalk Park.
There is no bike parking at any of the schools or playgrounds, nor the skateboard park on Burnham Road, nor even the athletic facilities at the High School.
Nevins Library included a bike rack in its new renovations and the size chosen is quite adequate to present demand.
PRIVATE:
There are no bike racks at any of the department or grocery stores. Large retailers such as Walmart, Target and Home Depot which are easily accessible by public transportation have made no provision for cyclist parking.
The two serpentine style racks installed at the Loop, in front of Old Navy and K-B toy seem to be targeted toward non-adult riders. However, the Loop’s own policy discouraging youth congregation, causes these racks to go unused. Bike parking would be more practical installed in front of Stop and Shop and Loews Cinema and targeted towards the adult cyclist.
Several of other bike racks are improperly installed or in advanced states of disrepair, which discourages their use.
Available Bike Parking as of Sept 1, 2008
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Nevins Memorial Library
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Veteran’s Park Milk st
Serpentine bike rack Holds 9 bikes 
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KB Toys 90 Pleasant Valley st
Serpentine Rack holds 7 bikes 
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Old Navy 90 Pleasant Valley St # 102
serpentine holds 7 bikes
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Mill Falls Apartments
51 Osgood St
incorrectly installed. not accessible from one side, not enough clearance for bikes between cars may not be properly bolted to the ground
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Choice Fitness 126 Merrimack St
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YMCA
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Commuter parking lot
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Riverwalk
Osgood st Serpentine unit holds 7 bikes 
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Park near Water Treatment Plant
old lowboy bike rack,
Crushed by a tractor during construction too far from present activity area.
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