Letter to the Editor: Bike riders are coming--when will we welcome them with convenient parking?

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Gerald Harvey of Decorah)

"Why are bicycle racks in Decorah placed where they cannot be seen from the destination of cyclists?  We built a trail so they would come, but we do not seem to want to provide the cyclists with convenient, safe parking.  A prime example is parking for T-Bocks.  Where are the bicycle racks?  Why are they hidden from view?
 
When we grew up we saw a bicycle as something children rode around on.  Today the bicycle is becoming a mode of transportation for those who work and shop.  A good convenient bicycle rack or corral makes a safe place to lock up the bicycle just like we do our car while we are shopping.
 
People are always complaining there is not enough parking in downtown Decorah.   We need to find an answer to the parking problem.  Does one person/one car or one person/one bicycle create more parking spaces?  For every bicycle locked in a bicycle parking corral in the street we are in theory freeing up a parking space for an automobile.  A rack with several bicycles represents several open parking spaces for cars.  How is that for a simple parking solution?
 
Cyclists are coming, when are we going to welcome them by accommodating them with convenient, safe and secure parking?

Where is the bike parking space?

If you can't find the parking space, you'll make due