The Ann Arbor DDA Begins Annual Bicycle Amenity Upgrades and Installations

A temporary on-street rack that will soon be re-installed in front of the People's Food Co-op.

Photo by Nancy Shore

It’s the time of year when the weather warms, bicyclists come out in full force, and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) focuses on bicycle projects and amenities. Over the course of several weeks, we will install temporary on-street racks, begin bicycle hoop maintenance and installation, and distribute a downtown bike map. The DDA undertakes such projects annually with the belief that accessible and integrated transportation options contribute to a more enjoyable and vibrant downtown.

On Saturday, April 24, we installed three on-street racks throughout downtown, with additional locations to be installed in the coming weeks. These temporary on-street racks are the result of a successful pilot program in the summer of 2009. Many people indicated a strong appreciation, noting that the racks helped to fill a need for bike parking while also adding to the hip feel of Downtown Ann Arbor. During warm weather seasons, the racks can accommodate 14 bicycles in a single parking space and free up valuable sidewalk occupied by outdoor seating, shopping, and pedestrian walk space.

Current locations include:

Bivouac on State Street
Panera Bread on North University
Mighty Good Coffee on Main Street

A highly used location last year, the People’s Food Co-op, will be re-installed very shortly, after adjustments are made to better accommodate the rack as well as users of the adjacent handicap parking space. In addition, we ordered two additional racks and are working with local businesses to target high bicycle traffic areas for installation. If you have any suggestions you’d like to share, please do so at our online bicycle parking request form.

The DDA and getDowntown Program will also begin an assessment of bike parking this week - as travelers become more bicycle savvy and the downtown business mix changes, so do bicycle parking needs. Some will be relocated or replaced and additional parking will be installed where needed. We hope to follow the trend of last year's on-street rack pilot program and continue finding innovative ways to accommodate bicycle parking as well as downtown shops and pedestrians.

In addition to bike parking, the DDA will soon have printed copies of the Downtown Bicycle Map ready for distribution. To assist cyclists traveling to and through the downtown, staff worked with GN Communications to prepare a brochure with bicycle parking locations, routes, and tips for riding downtown.

These efforts are the latest in a number of initiatives to improve transportation into and through the downtown. The DDA recently completed the 2010 Public Parking and Transportation Demand Management Plan, with the goal of “expand[ing] upon an integrated set of transportation and parking approaches that support a strong, attractive, vital, and diverse downtown and core area.” In addition, the DDA plays a significant role in alternative transportation programs by providing 90% of the cost for the go!pass for 6,000 downtown employees, and funding for Zipcar sponsorship, the Night Ride Program, pedestrian improvements and the getDowntown Program.

To find additional information on these DDA programs and others, please visit www.a2dda.org

To continue sharing your thoughts, insights, or simply say hello - please submit feedback on www.a2dda.org, visit our Facebook page or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Amber Miller is Planning & Research Specialist at the Ann Arbor DDA. She is enthusiastic about maintaining a vibrant Downtown Ann Arbor and the work that the DDA does to support it. You can contact her at amiller@a2dda.org.