Above and below, Greenfield.

Who qualifies to receive these? Private businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies

For example, do you know a HER Helmet Thursdays business or organization (i.e., any of the hundreds in 19 Monterey County communities—9th Anniversary Edition – HER Helmet Thursdays Guide – Participants as of 23 November 2018 or other place where bike parking or a repair/maintenance station is needed? Share with them a short link to this post (http://bit.ly/FREEBikeRacksAndMore).

TAMC is able to consider requests for the free items (as well as limited assistance for artistic designs), as part of its program dubbed the Bicycle Secure Program.

Note: Although February 1, 2018 was the deadline for 2018’s formal application period for http://www.tamcmonterey.org/programs/bike-pedestrian/bicycle-secure-program/, applications may also be submitted year-round.

Any potential reserve funding may be made available to purchase additional equipment on a case by case basis throughout the year (see page 12 of http://www.tamcmonterey.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BPC_February_Agenda_2018_Meeting.pdf).

As of 12/2/17, the TAMC “Bicycle Secure Program” web page http://www.tamcmonterey.org/programs/bike-pedestrian/bicycle-secure-program/ hadn’t been updated, so here’s the scoop: “For the 2018 grant cycle, the proposed schedule calls for an initial application period from December 6, 2017 to February 1, 2018. Staff will review all application materials and submit a recommendation to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee at its March 7, 2018 [meeting], and then submit a recommendation to the Agency Board for approval at its meeting on March 28, 2018. Following Board approval, the equipment will be distributed and installed between April and June, 2018.” For application and other details, refer to pages 103-104 of  http://www.tamcmonterey.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Agenda_2017_12_6_Meeting67.pdf

For example, many people bike to HER Helmet Thursdays spots MYO Pure Frozen Yogurt in Monterey, Seaside, and Salinas. Although MYO’s location in Monterey has bike racks conveniently located out front (thanks, City of Monterey—scroll down to see), there are no such racks at MYO Pure Frozen Yogurt, Salinas or Seaside.

When a bike rack will be installed on city property (e.g., on a sufficiently-wide city sidewalk), the city can apply to TAMC for a free bike rack. If a bike rack will be installed on private property, that property owner can apply to TAMC for a free bike rack.

Regarding this Salinas location, I’ve asked the City of Salinas to address this bike parking need. City staffers are busy, sure, and often “it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.” Now it’s your turn to “squeak up” about this bike rack need for patrons of the businesses near 1091 South Main Street: Send a tickler about this (or other city property where you know bike parking or repair stations are needed) to City of Salinas; contact info: http://www.cityofsalinas.org/our-city-services/public-works.

Contrast: Nice! In the City of Monterey, patrons of MYO Pure Frozen Yogurt and other nearby businesses have a conveniently located bike rack.

In the City of Seaside, MYO Pure Frozen Yogurt could also use more convenient bike parking. 

Shout-out of gratitude to City of Monterey: Bonifacio Plaza received a much needed bike rack in 2017.

Property owners, keep in mind…

Bicycle parking racks are best installed in an area where the parked bicycles can be seen by their owners—for example, visible from a large picture window (not a small, high window only, as in the photo below).

Also helpful for theft prevention is having the area well-lit at night.

The photo below shows a bike rack installed at a restaurant by City of Seaside. Unfortunately it was not installed in a spot optimal for bicycle security / theft-prevention. Adding an overhead light would be of some help.

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Note: In 2017, the grant application period closed Feb 2, 2017  with an approximately $10,000 reserve still available for such equipment—as advised on page 16 of the March 1, 2017 bike-ped committee meeting packet. That reserve allowed TAMC to consider additional 2017 requests for the free repair stations or parking options, which TAMC considered on a case by case basis.

If you miss TAMC’s 2018 application deadline, check with TAMC just in case there is a similar reserve situation in 2018.

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For more about bicycle parking

on the bikemonterey.org website, click here.

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This website focuses primarily on biking. Nonetheless, Bicycling Monterey also appreciates other active/healthy transportation users! That includes skateboarders and scooter users, who also benefit from  TAMC’s “Bicycle Secure Program,” which offers free skateboard and scooter racks too.

Skateboarding to pick up water for the family, in Seaside

Military students skateboarding for fun, in Monterey

Scooting for fun in East Salinas

We like scooting in East Salinas too!

This post was first published 1 March 2017 and was extensively revised and updated (e.g., new photos and more).

Short link to this post: http://bit.ly/FREEBikeRacksAndMore