A request from the city: Where do you want a bike rack?

Know of a good place for the City of Austin to install a bike rack? Check out this request just sent to me by the latest member of the CoA Bike/Pedestrian staff, Jason Fialkoff:

Please let me know if you have any bicycle rack requests. We currently have a small construction team at our disposal, and they will have installed nearly all of the BAC's bicycle rack requests by mid-next week. Unfortunately we can not install any new bicycle racks on 6th St or Congress Ave until next fiscal year (we have run out of green bicycle racks, which are required for these locations). Please send requests for bicycle racks to my work email at jason.fialkoff@ci.austin.tx.us.

Also, feel free to give my information to local businesses who need bicycle racks.

The city has been going full steam ahead installing the racks outlined on the "official" downtown bike rack map (.pdf), but they've still got racks and a small bit of manpower to spare. Help them use it by shooting Jason a note and telling them where you think Austin could use another bike rack. Own a business and need a few in front of your shop? Hit them up! Like drinking at an off-6th St. bar and think a few more racks wouldn't hurt? You know who to call.

Update: Jason wanted to let everyone know that they don't have carte blanche to install bike racks ANYWHERE (aka. ignore my enthusiasm), so please take the following points into consideration when requesting a bike rack:

# The City of Austin is not allowed to put racks everywhere. For example, we need permission from the Texas Facilities Commission to install racks on state property (eg-the Capitol building). Some places are too narrow and won't allow us to meet ADA requirements. We have other legal constraints to follow as well.

# We try to install racks as quickly as possible, but we can't meet all demand immediately. Anyone who follows the ATXBS blog or the news should know that the COA is resource constrained.

Thanks for keeping me honest, Jason. Don't want to cause TOO many headaches for the City Bike/Ped program folks, since they're already doing such a great job of fixing some of the City's sticker bike problems. If you see these cats out and about, buy them a beer and say thanks! They deserve it.

Already the city has been getting positive feedback over the racks they've been installing, like the following letter that was also forwarded to the BAC mailing list:

Saw some of the new bike racks in the Red River/7th st area Monday night. This was one of the most under served areas in town, in my opinion, and wanted to give everyone from the Bike Ped organization, and the BAC a big congratulations for getting these in. I didn't have to lock up to a parking meter (which are probably going to be gone pretty soon). Hopefully these racks fill up fast and we will need more soon ;)

Allen

I'm glad to hear people are already making good use of the brand new racks. I look forward to a downtown full of safely locked bikes in Austin's immediate future. Just don't forget that U-Lock.