Bike Pittsburgh

the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

i guess this is the most appropriate place for this so hopefully people will read it!

the owners of dozen bakeshop in lawrenceville are trying to get on-street bike parking at the store. thursday, july 10th they are asking people to come in and sign a petition. i'm not sure why the one day specifically, but if you can't make it i'll be there on friday evening to take your signature.

here is what the petition reads (i'm typing the whole thing so ignore mistakes):

Dozen Bakeshop in Lawrenceville is seeking support to be the first business to install on-street bike parking in Pgh. An innovative idea that has already happened in NYC, on-street bike parking usually means the sidewalk is extended out the length of a typical parking spot. Bike racks are then installed and allowed to park in what otherwise was a spot dedicated to a vehicle. We are currently seeking support from the community to show the city of Pgh that this community is progressive, forward thinking, and environmentally conscious.
We believe that this project will help change the way we think of transportation in the city of Pgh and legitimate the use of bicycles and those who depend on them for real movement throughout the city of Pgh. In addition, we do not believe the loss of the single parking space will affect the parking needs of this area.

Advantages:
-encourages more biking. taking a few more cars of the street.
-sets a precedent for biking as a genuine form of transportation.
-takes bikes off the sidewalks, street signs, and trees and gives them a dedicated parking area.
-reduces pollution.
-encourages physical activity and wellness.
-supports the project of lower butler in becoming the next boutique and entertainment district in the revitalization of our city.

We ask that the city of Pgh and the involved offices investigate this project.

so it would be awesome if anyone would be available to come add a signature. and i'll be bringing cupcakes to bike polo tomorrow so be there!

take it easy.

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

I'll try to drop by. It's my birthday so maybe I'll pick up some nice cupcakes as well.

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

here's our alert about it:

http://bike-pgh.org/2008/07/10/action-alert-sign-the-dozen-cupcakes-bike-rack-petition/

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

Would this lead to bicycle parking meters?

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

A typical parking meter charges something like 25 cents for half an hour. Since one can fit 10 bicycles in the same space as one car, a bicycle parking meter could rightfully charge 2.5 cents for half an hour of parking. There are no such parking meters. And then, even if there were, they would need to install 10 of them. Isn't going to happen.

I'm sure the Autodominionists will make some sort of stink that we cyclists aren't paying our fair share for the road and are stealing parking from paying customers and getting free parking but, you know what? Too bad. Buy a bike and you could have free parking, too.

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

on top of that, short of booting every bike that doesn't pay, there is no way to enforce it because bikes aren't registered

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

top. please stop by and sign.

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

From what I have heard, several municipalities have attempted mandatory bicycle registration. Most of those attempts have failed. DC just abandoned it's plan. Detroit is trying a new plan, ostensibly to combat theft.

Europeans don't have to suffer under bike registration. I look on it as just another autodominionsist attempt to control the roads for themselves.

(I made up the word autodominionist to refer to people in cars who believe that roads are their exclusive domain and oppose any other use. We all know the type. A search of Google could find no other instances so if, by chance, the word catches on, I just want to document that it was heard here first.)

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

http://www.copenhagenize.com/2008/05/rewarding-cyclists.html

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

Please sign this if you haven't yet. It's available throughout the weekend.

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

Can we sign it at Dozen in Squirrel Hill?

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

I added "autodominionist" to urbandictionary.com. It's still in the editor-review stage, but I suspect it will show up shortly.

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

don't think so, mary, only in lville

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

the spot that would be used for bikes is free parking already, so no one can cause a big fuss (just kidding, i'm sure someone will find a way to be a jerk)

as far as i know the petition is only in lawrenceville, sorry!

lots of signatures so far! and i also have soooo many cupcakes here that will never see the inside of someone's stomach. unless someone wants to take them to the urban velo release gathering tonight! you can call me - 412 523 4567 - if you want to take them. it's a long shot, but they taste so good!

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

I'm always a day late and a dollar short. I bike right thru there on Butler. Any chance I can give my signature monday?

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

So out of curiosity, what was the impetus behind this idea (besides the fact that it's freakin' rad)?

Is the sidwalk in L-ville too narrow, thus causing issues with pedestrian traffic when all us bikers decide to stop at once for our cupcake fix?

Is there not enough bike parking on the sidewalk, and city code wouldn't allow the installation of any more for some reason?

Or was it none of the above, and we're just taking the opportunity to do something awesome?

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

So out of curiosity, what was the impetus behind this idea (besides the fact that it's freakin' rad)?

Is the sidwalk in L-ville too narrow, thus causing issues with pedestrian traffic when all us bikers decide to stop at once for our cupcake fix?

Is there not enough bike parking on the sidewalk, and city code wouldn't allow the installation of any more for some reason?

Or was it none of the above, and we're just taking the opportunity to do something awesome?

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

James, one of the owners of Dozen, wanted this to happen so he organized it.

We really want to see this happen in other places such as Craig St in Oakland.

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

I do not understand why a car should have to pay for parking but a bicycle wouldn't. Motorcycles have to. Scooters have to. Is it a motor thing? If you have a motor you pay?

RE: the first on-street bike parking in pgh?

I do not understand why a car should have to pay for parking but a bicycle wouldn't. Motorcycles have to. Scooters have to. Is it a motor thing? If you have a motor you pay?

Well, if the goal is to discourage motorized traffic, allowing free parking for human-powered vehicles isn't a bad idea. And, it's significantly more gentle than, say, charging any motorized vehicle a $5 fee to enter the city limits.

[Edited to add:]Personally, I'd be cool with scooters and motorcycles parking for free too, as they're still one heck of a lot less impactful than most cars.