Dozens of bike racks will be installed in some of the city’s most popular urban districts, along with a few bike repair stations to give cyclists a place to air up tires and perform other maintenance.

Dozens of bike racks will be installed in some of the city’s most popular urban districts, along with a few bike repair stations to give cyclists a place to air up tires and perform other maintenance.

Nearly $40,000 will be spent on the new bike racks and repair stations, the majority coming from an Association of Central Oklahoma Governments grant and $7,000 from local business districts.

“The bike racks that we currently have are about 10 years old, so this will allow us to replace some broken ones and have more places for bike parking,” said Kristen Vails, director of the Plaza District, which will see the addition of several new bike racks and a repair station. “We are really excited about the bike repair station.”

In addition to the Plaza District, repair stations will be located in Deep Deuce. Each repair station will include an air pump, a bike hanger and tools for basic maintenance, such as brake adjustments and flat repairs.

BLOG: Bike racks, repair stations coming to several districts
Provided
An example of a bike repair station.

“People can bike to the [Plaza] District and know they have a place they can repair their bike or air it up,” Vails said.

BLOG: Bike racks, repair stations coming to several districts
Provided
Tools at each bike repair station will be secured.

Other neighborhoods that will see new bike racks include downtown, Film Row, Bricktown, Uptown 23rd Street and the Paseo Arts District.

“We definitely want to encourage walkability and bike riding,” said Paseo executive director Amanda Bleakley. “We want people to feel that they can ride their bikes or walk from their neighborhood. And also have a place where they can lock their bike up.”

The grant will also fund new crosswalks at Eugene Elementary School and pedestrian signage at Hayes Elementary School. The city kicked in $1,300 for the crosswalks and signage.

BLOG: Bike racks, repair stations coming to several districts
Garett Fisbeck
Crosswalk near Eugene Field Elementary in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014.

The city council approved an agreement with ACOG and the business districts during Tuesday’s meeting and work is expected to begin shortly on the new infrastructure.

“I’ve lived here 23 years and we are definitely becoming more pedestrian and bike friendly all the way around,” Bleakley said. “This is another step in that.”

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