City has bike corrals for interested businesses
As more city residents opt for alternative modes of transportation to get around, Salt Lake City officials are hoping to make it easier for cyclists to bike to city restaurants, bars, coffee shops and parks. City staff has installed ten bike corrals at local businesses and have another ten corrals available for free for interested business owners.
“It’s very cool,” said James Soares, Squatters director of operations, the first downtown business to install a bike corral. “We want to appeal to all kinds of commuters, especially bikers. These bikers help our air quality and come in thirsty.”
According to a statement from the city, the expansion of bike corrals is part of Mayor Jackie Biskupski’s plan to make Salt Lake City a very bike-friendly place to live. Squatters is directly in front of the 300 South cycle track, or protected bike lane.
Since Mayor Biskupski took office the city has produced very few new bike lanes and no new cycle tracks that use physical barriers to separate cars from cyclists. Additionally, the city has seen its national status as a leading bicycle friendly city slip as the construction of new bike lanes significantly slowed.
Residents could see a boom in bike lane construction as the city plans to rebuild many of its roads. Under city’s Complete Streets Ordinance, any road that is rebuilt must include bike lanes.
“We want to help people get out of their cars, get on a bike and help clean our air,” said Mayor Biskupski in a statement. “This is also a great opportunity for businesses to show how much they care about their customers and what we all breathe.”
Each corral takes up one parking space, but one corral allows up to ten cyclists to lock up their bicycles. The corrals are installed from April to November and then removed for snow plowing in the winter. Where sidewalk or park strip space permits, the City prefers to install permanent bike parking.
“Bike corrals have been very popular with customers and business owners at locations such as restaurants, coffee-shops and bars–social destinations where friends may ride together,” said Becka Roolf, Salt Lake City active transportation planner. “At these locations, there’s a real need for bicycle parking, especially during the summer.”
Currently, there are bike corrals at the following locations:
- Squatters Pub – 147 West 300 South
- Bruges Waffles and Frites – 336 West 300 South
- Sugar House Pub – 1992 South 1100 East – SLC’s first double-corral
- Tracy Aviary – Liberty Park
- Bar X / Beer Bar – 155 East 200 South – double-corral
- Twilite Lounge – 347 East 200 South
- The Ruin – 1215 Wilmington Avenue, Sugar House
- Coffee Noir – 1035 East 200 South
