(Photo: Jonathan Maus)
Earlier this month, the BTA’s Karl Rohde reported that a bunch of new bike racks had been installed in front of City Hall’s main entrance (on SW Fourth Ave.).
The racks were installed as a temporary measure to handle the increased demand during the Bike Commute Challenge, which runs through this month.
Scott Moore (the Portland Mercury news writer who practically lives in City Hall) now reports that the racks might have a chance to become permanent.
Here’s what he just posted to the Mercury’s blog:
“..on Friday, Commissioner Sam Adams was making the rounds of his colleagues’ offices, asking bike commuters to put pressure on the Bureau of General Services (BGS, which manages city buildings) to keep the racks around past September…”
Moore says Adams’ idea would carry more weight if the racks were actually being used. He quotes building manager John Acker as saying, “I’ve seen no more than three bicycles at any one time parked there since they went in.”
According to Moore, Acker claims City Hall is historic (which I assume means he thinks the racks detract from its architectural integrity) and thinks there’s plenty of other, more suitable options for bike parking in the area (don’t tell that to PDOT employees, who continue to grumble about the lack of bike parking available at their building just across the street).
If the racks are going to stay, Moore says that it would have to be brought to City Council for a vote. No word yet on whether or not it will come to that…stay tuned.