SFMTA Approves Four New Bike Corrals

An SFMTA hearing officer has approved four new bike corrals that will be installed of front of Mike’s Bikes in SoMa, Timbuk2 in Hayes Valley, the Butler and the Chef restaurant in South Park and Thieves Tavern/Box Dog Bikes on 14th Street. A total of four parking spaces will be converted into on-street parking for 46 bikes.

“We have a lot of bikers,” said Nicole Cooper of Timbuk2 on Hayes Street, adding that many of them come in to take advantage of a discount offered through the I Bike SF program.

Nate Rotsko, the general manager of Mike’s Bikes on Howard Street, said the “disorganized” bike parking outside the store has been an issue for customers.

“By taking out one parking space, we’re going to provide parking space for 12 bicycles in a neat, orderly section and clean up bike parking in that area,” he said. “It will also draw attention to the cyclists in that area by moving bikes onto the street. It will inherently improve safety for commuters and people coming along Howard.”

Since the injunction was lifted August 6, the SFMTA has installed 5 bike corrals along Valencia Street, and hopes to get the new ones in by the end of the year.

“The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has been talking to business owners all across the city to inform them about this opportunity to attract more customers,” says Renée Rivera, the SFBC’s acting executive director. “Bike parking corrals are already helping the city catch up with the widespread demand for easy ways to shop and visit local places by bike and we look forward to helping even more businesses realize this opportunity.”

The SFBC has been encouraging bicyclists to tell their favorite businesses that they can get a bike corral installed for free. They’ve been handing out these flyers [pdf] to businesses.