With approval of a $20,000 grant, bike racks and bike repair stations will be added to several locations around McMinnville for bicycle enthusiasts.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Alderman Rachel Kirby. “Some good news.”
That statement was made after Bike McMinnville member Ian Riley outlined the group’s proposal before the city’s Building and Grounds Committee.
“The county applied last year for a $20,000 health grant through the state to provide for biking infrastructure through the city and county,” said Riley. “We were originally wanting to do at least five bicycle racks, two repair stations, design and printing for brochures that show bike routes through the city, and helmets and lights for children’s safety and other high-risk users. Working with several different companies with quotes, we were actually able to get 12 bike racks and four repair stations.”
He proposed the following locations:
“Bike racks would be placed at the courthouse, Court Square on the south side, Civic Center and Farmers Market,” said Riley. “Repair stations would be at the Civic Center, Farmers Market, Riverfront Park and one on the greenway on South Chancery beside an existing bike rack.”
The bike racks fit two bicycles and are designed to help protect bicycles from thieves, while the repair stations would provide tools to make minor repairs. The tools, including an air pump and gauge, are tethered via steel cables to help prevent theft.
“We just need a space to install them,” said Riley.
Mayor Ben Newman asked, “Do you have a specific location on Court Square where these would be installed?”
“We were looking at near the Chamber of Commerce, but that is still to be determined,” said Riley. “We need approval and to make sure we are following ADA spacing requirements.”
Newman asked, “Will these be on the sidewalk?”
“The bike racks are to be installed into concrete with bolts,” said Riley. “They can be on asphalt or concrete, some kind of hard surface. There will be plates at the bottom of them so that they will be drilled through. As far as the courthouse, they were looking at putting it on the sidewalk for people who don’t have a car but need to use their bike to get to court.”
Riley’s asked the city’s Building and Grounds Committee to allow its Public Works Department to assist in determining placement and to assist in the installation once those locations are approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Committee members approved the request.
