Lynn lands $20G grant for bike racks

LYNN – Public bicycle racks will soon be installed at 35 locations throughout the city.”From our perspective, we wanted to promote fitness, encourage alternative means of transportation, enhance public access to public buildings and parks, cut down on air pollution and afford bicyclists a means to secure their bikes,” said City Community Development Director James Marsh. “We will also be installing them near other means of transportation.”According to Marsh, some of the 136 racks will be installed at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) train, bus and taxi terminal at the corner of Market and Broad streets “to further facilitate public transportation.”The racks are made in seven styles – Hoop, Hitch, Hi Roller, Excalibur, Swerve, Arc and Sphere, he said.To fund the initiative, city officials applied for a grant through the Massachusetts Area Planning Council’s Regional Bike Parking Program.Rack locations include the MBTA garage at Market Street, the MBTA walkway along Munroe Street, Lynn Shore Drive, North Shore Community College, Manning Field, Fraser Field, Keaney Park, Flax Pond, Lynn Vocational and Technical Institute, Bowser Complex at Breed Junior High, Hood Park, Barry Park, Lynn Woods entrance at Pennybrook Road, Lynn Woods entrance at Great Woods Road, Frey Park, Henry Avenue Playground, Gallagher Park, Girls Inc., Lynn Common and the Lynn Public Library, High Rock Park, Market Square, Gowdy Park, Goldfish Pond, Lynn Museum, Magnolia Park, Sluice Pond, Floating Bridge Pond, Kiley Park, the Lynn Community Health Center and the District Courthouse.The $20,000 grant pays for the racks but the city is responsible for the installation. “From time to time, we get notification of grants and my staff meets weekly to talk about them. We kicked this one around and it seemed to make sense from a green, smart-growth, commuter-oriented perspective,” said Marsh, noting that federal block grant money will be used to pay for the installation.”We discussed different ideas on where it makes sense to install the racks, like down at the marina where the ferry is going to go, the T garage, the public library and other places people like to bike to.”The racks provide a decorative security anchor to which cyclists can lock their wheels. They are scheduled for installation during summer. The most unique racks, such as the Excalibur, will be located outside the courthouse and at City Hall.