Letter to the Editor: "Move bike racks to location where they will be used"

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

"The bike racks need to be moved to locations where they will be used.  The current locations are not at bicyclists destinations.  When you drive a car you are looking for a parking space as near to your destination as possible.  The same is true of a cyclist who has spent some time in the saddle.  They are looking for a place to safely lock up their bicycle that is close to their destination.  One parking space holds one car.  More times than not there is only one person in the car.  That same parking space can hold up to 10 bicycles.  
 
The city needs to put people on the street to see where bicycles are parked and where the destinations are. The current locations were placed without any thought or suggested input by cyclists.  Just because you put out a bicycle rack does not mean it will be used.  It will only be used if it is visible, handy and safely located near a destination.  Start with destinations that provide food and entertainment.  Go on line to cities such as Spokane, Washington which has been providing bicycle parking areas for years.   Use their suggestions and criteria.  A lot of cities have successfully created safe and secure bicycle parking areas. DOT departments in many states have specifications for bicycle parking.  Decorah needs to look into what others have done to make the right decisions.  

As a final note: you may want to talk to people who visit us, and are at the camp ground, and have bicycles.  Find out where their bicycle destinations would be down town.  We built a trail and we are in the process of building another.  Let us make those who come feel welcome."