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Parking meter removal and impact on bicyclists

Please read:

http://localhost/blog/2012/07/24/how-the-citys-parking-meter-replacement-will-affect-bicyclists/


In short:


-Meters will be removed, meaning we'll be losing lots of parking.

-City intends to install lots and lots of bike racks in the affected neighborhoods.

-The racks probably won't go in until after the meters are removed - hopefully as soon as possible.

-The new kiosks will be installed while the old meters are still there.

-Once you see a kiosk, the meters will be removed within a week or so.

-If possible, avoid longer term parking at the meters at that time.

-They assured us that they won't remove the meters or cut the heads off, while a bike is still attached (this happened in Philly). They say that if they come upon a bike that is locked to a meter that needs to be removed, they will tag the bike asking for it to be moved within a certain time. they will then come back and remove the meter.


This is also a great time to get your favorite places to submit the online form to request a free rack from the city. This will help give them a better chance of getting a rack after the meters are removed


erok
2012-07-24 18:27:05

THANK YOU Bike-Pgh for being on top of this and facilitating a plan before the meters vanish.


A+!


pseudacris
2012-07-24 19:37:45

You're welcome! Thanks for being a member and supporting our work! This thread and blog post made me curious to see whenwe started working on this. Jan 24, 2011 was our first letter to the Parking Authority and its board of directors about meter modernization/bikes. This kicked off a series of meetings, emails and phone calls to address the issue.


scott
2012-07-24 19:48:21

Let's wait until those racks go in.


If all goes well, this will be the largest installation of bike racks the city ever did. Even after, we'll probably still be short, but i'm confident that this is a great start that will be built upon.


fingers crossed.


erok
2012-07-24 19:50:36

meters are disappearing over the past week or so. at least in shadyside and bloomfield, where i often find myself wanting to park my bike. not very happy about that, especially in shadyside, which already had a dearth of bike parking (where i park, anyway) but plenty of demand.


hiddenvariable
2012-12-11 16:56:43

The meters were removed from Forbes in front of work downtown a couple of weeks ago. Bikeygirl and I nearly had our bikes set adrift from the removal! But our wonderful door man Tyrone went through the building looking for bike owners before they were cut loose, 14 floors. Reminds me I owe Tyrone a little something.

We now def needs some racks down here, in front of 429 Forbes, need to work on that.


edmonds59
2012-12-11 17:12:50

I'm not sure why the shadyside parking garage has no bike racks inside... I tried to 311 it, but it's the parking authority's problem.


benzo
2012-12-11 17:14:41

Meters are about to start disappearing from Butler street, too. Noticed one of the new multispace meters around 43rd the other day.


epanastrophe
2012-12-11 18:48:42

Meters gone from pretty much everywhere now. The Strip, Southside, Downtown... Still no new racks, aside from a few Ive seen in Oakland. Hopefully they get on installing more of these new racks ASAP. Having to lock up far from your destination is especially painful in these chilly fall/winter months.


2012-12-11 20:33:04

not really sure what the hold up is, but the southside should be getting racks really soon


erok
2012-12-11 21:18:00

the racks in oakland are kinda lame, too. instead of a pole every ten feet, there's a staple-rack down at the corner--and pretty much only on Forbes; there's virtually nothing in eastern Oakland at all.


if not already in the works, I'd like to propose a corral (perhaps a small one) on Craig St. I've seen three or four bikes locked just to the wheelchair railing at the Starbucks, not to mention the small handful of other options remaining on the block. The sidewalks are narrow, too, so it might even be appreciated as an opening-up-the-pavements sort of thing...


epanastrophe
2012-12-11 22:44:36

There's a beauty spot for a corral at the new Strip District diner Kelly O's, there's a big area in their lot that's nonfunctional for cars. I spoke to Kelly and they're cool with it.


vannever
2012-12-11 23:10:48

Emailed Dowd and Peduto just now as a concerned Bloomfield business owner who will lose money from lack of places to park. (Really, I just want more parking for myself :D)


I know Leslie at East End Book Exchange, so she and the businesses she knows can also do the same. IF you know a business owner in an area where meters have been removed, try to get them to email their councilperson. I'm hoping that if enough businesses express interest in having racks in the neighborhood, that the city can install them sooner.


rubberfactory
2012-12-12 02:56:18

Personally - the new system sucks!


I was in south side, in a meter-less lot.

I parked, paid my fee ($2) entered my license plate, have witness (girl friend). Came back after wandering around $20 ticket.


2012-12-12 03:44:35

It's dumb to have to do it, but print and keep the receipt.


epkiley
2012-12-12 12:36:30

i was wondering if bikepgh might have any printed material for businesses about getting themselves hooked up with a bike rack? i deliver posters all over the place and i have been thinking it'd be easy to hand out some info to business owners about bike racks.


i could just make some flyers or something myself, but i'm certain kinds of lazy. i WILL distribute info to/for peeps, though. downtown needs more bike racks bad. i feel like kind of a bad person for locking up to a little tree.


parvipica
2012-12-12 23:04:23

about a year ago, i made this cheesy flyer that you can print out.

http://bike-pgh.org/blog/2011/10/21/be-an-advocate-make-sure-your-favorite-businesses-have-bike-racks/


gotta say that they might wait awhile because it seems that all available racks will be going to the parking meter replacement. it can't hurt for them to submit, in fact it could help because it demonstrates that there is a demand for this, thus making it easier for the bike/ped coordinator to justify asking for more $$.


erok
2012-12-13 00:38:09

i shall print those. thanks!


parvipica
2012-12-13 03:11:40

The lack of meters has made it difficult to find places to end the Flock rides. Only two places now can accommodate the number of bikes that we bring. Yesterday we needed more bike parking than even OTB had available.


marvelousm3
2012-12-15 19:31:42

I'm looking into starting the process of having a bike corral at the big idea, but I can't make any promises, since it's a relatively long process.


rubberfactory
2012-12-15 20:27:19

Bike stacking!


I know most people wont want too


but it works


2012-12-17 02:07:51

bike stacking?????????


josgood
2012-12-17 04:27:14

@buffalo^2 -- there are racks down Craig a little ways, at the CMU Public Safety building (formerly the center for the blind, if that helps -- the building that contains Razzy Fresh). Personally I think it would be great for the city to put a bike corral in on Craig as well.


jamesk
2012-12-17 12:37:34




Bike Stacking!


benzo
2012-12-17 14:08:58

aaaaahahahah! BIKE STACKING IS THE ANSWER!


2012-12-17 14:38:49

This one is better --


2012-12-17 17:27:06





2012-12-17 17:28:46

This is what is going a happen if you park we you should not:



2012-12-17 17:37:42

Zoobomb Pile + Powell's Books


jonawebb
2012-12-17 17:42:16

"They assured us that they won't remove the meters or cut the heads off, while a bike is still attached (this happened in Philly). They say that if they come upon a bike that is locked to a meter that needs to be removed, they will tag the bike asking for it to be moved within a certain time. they will then come back and remove the meter."


Hrm.... that is not true: From Downtown they removed the meter off in front the building were I work. The Gentleman in charge of security at front knew it was my bike and that of my co-workers and alerted us, so we went and got them.


Do not trust that they won't remove a meter if you have your bike locked there.


bikeygirl
2012-12-17 19:27:29

@mikhail - where are those pics from?


mick
2012-12-17 19:48:06

Y'now when one of the "Great things Europeans have" included a 5 story bike garage I despaired. A big bike garage means in wonderful Amsterdam, you can't just ride to the place you want to go and park your bike in front of it.


mick
2012-12-17 20:47:33

@jamesk - my office is around the corner, so i wouldn't be using the potential racks myself, but it's clear there's demand (the CMUPD building racks are themselves quite often full)...


epanastrophe
2012-12-17 21:01:07

There's some sense to that. I'd sooner see a bike corral on every block than one massive, central bike parking facility.


But I have to admit, that massive, central bike parking facility is a sure mind-bender for people who think there is no need for bicycle accommodations in a city.


stuinmccandless
2012-12-17 21:03:48

Hrm.... that is not true: From Downtown they removed the meter off in front the building were I work. The Gentleman in charge of security at front knew it was my bike and that of my co-workers and alerted us, so we went and got them.

Do not trust that they won't remove a meter if you have your bike locked there.


As it said, they assured us....We've heard several instances where they did however. When did it happen? Can you send me a description of when/where it happened?


Did you complain?


erok
2012-12-17 21:09:08

"Y'now when one of the "Great things Europeans have" included a 5 story bike garage I despaired. A big bike garage means in wonderful Amsterdam, you can't just ride to the place you want to go and park your bike in front of it."


Not true. You can ride your bike up and park at just about any business. From my understanding the garages are near trains and major transit hubs.


scott
2012-12-17 21:19:01

That was what I observed in Amsterdam - certainly near Centraal Station there is a massive bike parking garage used by people taking the train/bus, but that is not the normal situation. Most bikes are locked to railings along the canals, to racks, in smaller parking plazas, etc. - they truly are everywhere. I understand there's still not enough bike parking in some places but it's certainly not like you're going to have to park your bike somewhere and walk a mile to where you're going.


salty
2012-12-17 23:15:45

@Erok:


I don't remember when this happened, maybe month-and-a-half ago.


The event happened on Forbes Ave Downtown, and my Bldg Door/Person warned me-us that the City-Guys were taking down the meters BEFORE the guys actually would have gotten around to do it that day, so don't know if they would have actually done that, although it was suggested they would have.


bikeygirl
2012-12-19 16:58:02

ahhh. thanks for clarifying.


erok
2012-12-19 17:23:48

"Mine's the 4th one in from the left, 17th one up. Can I have it now, please?"


stuinmccandless
2013-01-11 14:30:56

I think it's self-serve. You grab your bike and pull. (I'm guessing you have to sign a waiver first.)


Jonawebb, it looks like you meant to make that a link. but it didn't work.


steven
2013-01-11 15:57:13

I was hoping it would work like Jenga.


pinky
2013-01-11 16:07:25

Google: bicycle + jenga =



kordite
2013-01-11 16:57:17

awkward transit, indeed. (note that the individual is actually walking next to the bike, not riding it...)


epanastrophe
2013-01-11 17:46:14

That needs to be in this thread.


stuinmccandless
2013-01-11 17:59:22
Bloomfield just got a couple dozen racks yesterday. Same day as the green lanes going in. Little Italy is looking good!
erok
2013-05-02 11:38:38
erok wrote:Bloomfield just got a couple dozen racks yesterday. Same day as the green lanes going in. Little Italy is looking good!
Hate being 'that guy', but is there any word on the Strip? I've seen some pretty creative solutions in the last few months. Also a plug for 21st Street Coffee on Smallman. They allow bikes to be brought in and kept while you are there -- good people.
that_tickles
2013-05-02 12:05:43
Strip: Not sure yet. Good news is that there is a really really good chance that a bike corral will be going in front of Kaya, which is next door to 21st St
erok
2013-05-02 12:12:28
The strip is a bit complicated because sidewalk space is at a premium, and honestly, i think adding bike racks to the sidewalks, if done wrong, is a bit problematic. however, the strip is an ideal location for corrals, especially in front of places that have sidewalk seating. I don't think anyone would be opposed to not having a vehicle spewing exhaust, backing into a space where they're trying to enjoy some amazing flavors. With that said, corrals take time, and have a bunch more red tape to get in, so things take longer.
erok
2013-05-02 12:18:57
Thanks for the update, erok. I've seen vendors block the few existing bike racks on the sidewalks, so I agree the corrals would be a better solution for the area. Would a concentrated 311 effort help things along?
pinky
2013-05-02 15:10:03
Market outlet in the strip implied that if I continue to lock my bike to the parking meter next to their parking lot, they'll damage it with their forklift. they take up more sidewalk space than legally allowed (if I remember correctly, you have to have a 4' wide aisle that's clear of debris/stands/etc)
rubberfactory
2013-05-02 16:44:15
it would be a shame if someone took a set of vise grips and played with the hydraulic fittings on their forklift...
cburch
2013-05-02 20:18:31
In such an implied situation I could imply that one might ride a crap bike down there that one didn't particularly care about, lock it up, and if any implied damage happened to it, get a new bike out of the deal. Just implying.
edmonds59
2013-05-02 20:25:03
I got a basement full of em :P
sgtjonson
2013-05-02 20:35:12
Smallman is only about 18,000 feet wide so it's hard to imagine how there couldn't be space there...
salty
2013-05-03 00:32:31
salty wrote:Smallman is only about 18,000 feet wide so it’s hard to imagine how there couldn’t be space there…
Despite it being very wide, it's designed incredibly poorly. Drivers coming from any side streets have no idea where to stop to get onto Smallman, and on weekends, many people drive in the 'dead zone' in between the parking spots and moving vehicles. I don't blame drivers, I have no idea what to do either. Sidewalk space is still very limited on the Penn Ave side of Smallman. Corrals definitely seem like the best solution. Penn Ave on the weekends would be a great candidate for the Open Streets program.
that_tickles
2013-05-03 05:55:42
smallman would be a perfect candidate for a major road diet. think how nice a tree lined parklet would be right there.
cburch
2013-05-03 10:28:09
btw, S Craig will be getting some racks (finally) in the coming weeks
erok
2013-06-25 10:41:11
This is related: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/audit-finds-pittsburgh-parking-authority-cant-account-for-old-meters-693981/ One thing we really pushed for was that when the contractor was out removing meters, if there is a bike attached to it, they should leave it alone, tag the bike with a message to the owner to remove it, and come back later for it. So far, we've received a couple reports of this not going as planned, but the owners of the bikes were able to get them back. To reiterate: If you see the kiosks installed as well as the old meters (it means the meters are going away soon), be extra vigilant when locking up. try not to use the meters, and if you do, make it short term.
erok
2013-07-02 15:32:25
Meters are currently being yanked from Murray on Sq. Hill.... :-( In better news, as of a couple of days ago it looked like Poucusset was getting re-paved.
pseudacris
2013-07-08 21:32:20
S Craig St just got a bunch of bike racks.
erok
2013-08-08 10:59:30
Looks like penn ave by children's hospital at the border of bloomfield and lawrenceville lost a bunch of meters.
benzo
2013-08-08 13:28:11
Costco at Water Front has a bike rack now. :) Yahoo!
mikhail
2013-08-08 15:32:08
Yahoo!
mikhail
2014-06-03 12:06:58
This was really needed, it's awesome that this project got completed! Weekend shopping in the strip should be a bit easier on the bike now.
benzo
2014-06-03 15:38:39
Nice. The corral on Smallwood was a nice gesture but not as practical.
ahlir
2014-06-03 19:19:33
the one on smallman has been there for over a year. Kaya requested it for the block
erok
2014-06-04 08:54:07
I need to find a new coffee shop in the strip. 21st has gotten too snotty since the move. La Prima is just moderately annoying with the Yinztalians. I just want a good espresso, not a lifestyle choice.
edmonds59
2014-06-04 09:59:23
Kaya requested it for the block Ah, got it. It was nice to have but, in the end, a schlep from Penn. Racks will make it easy to ride from shop to shop. One more thing: there's a fair number of workers' bikes parked up and down the street; now they get some decent parking.
ahlir
2014-06-04 16:28:13
yeah, noticed that, especially around peppi's. the corrals are funny as the city can't just put them in, but need a business to request it, and agree to help keep it free of trash
erok
2014-06-04 19:05:19
good espresso, not a lifestyle choice ... La Prima. Ignore the clientele: go outside. Weather is nice, and there's an awning. Show up early in the day and you avoid the gawkers. Show up too early and you have to hang with the Caffeine people (Saturdays). [Personal Note: I recently had coffee at a Blue Bottle. Despite a desperate desire to deny fashion and find it unremarkable, I found it dismayingly enjoyable. As near as I can tell they do not do a full espresso roast (so less bitter), and their grind is looser (you get this pleasantly gritty texture). Of course, they charge more.]
ahlir
2014-06-04 19:43:42
@erok i know a business on ellsworth that would like to put in a corral. do you have any literature or can you send me somewhere with more information about how they might go about doing that?
hiddenvariable
2014-06-05 10:09:50
sorry about those links, we're fixing that. Bike Corral in Shadyside. Their best bet right now is to probably contact Councilperson Dan Gilman. He's been working on a Shadyside specific bike corral, and would probably want it to be consistent
erok
2014-06-06 09:04:14
what business is it on ellsworth?
erok
2014-06-06 09:05:00
I'd bet my money on Harris Grill. Although they have one loop on the sidewalk now, when they leave their multiple giant trash cans out every morning the sidewalk is effectively blocked by the cans and the loop.
rgrasmus
2014-06-06 09:21:51
Shadyside bike racks went in on Ellsworth and Walnut. Well, i haven't personally seen the Walnut ones yet, but i heard they went in.
erok
2014-12-09 10:35:35