Since 2010, San Francisco has been installing “bike corrals” all across the city. This highly visible bike parking facilities are a great way to raise the visibility of local businesses – and invite the huge and growing number of people biking in San Francisco. The SF Bicycle Coalition has been instrumental in getting the successful bike corral program off the ground, and helping businesses get corrals.
As of August 2013, there are currently 35 bike corrals. From the Richmond to North Beach, the Outer Mission to SOMA, businesses are welcoming shoppers with abundant bike parking across the city, thanks to the help of the SFMTA*.
A bike corral can be installed at no cost to the business owner. The sponsoring business owner completes a simple one-page application, committing to keep the area clean and remove any debris or graffiti – just like the sidewalk fronting a business.
18th Street near Dolores Park has two bike corrals because the demand for bicycle parking is so great, and the sidewalks are so narrow. An On-Street Bike Corral helps open up sidewalks and allow for more window shopping and foot traffic – or more sidewalk dining like at Pizzaria Delfina. Plus, by converting a single car parking spot into a space for eight customers, it allows more people to shop and dine locally.
Beyond shopping, On-Street Bike Corrals improve safety for everyone. When installed near an intersection, bike corrals improve sight lines at intersections – allowing people on the road to more easily see people crossing the street and avoid collisions.
The SFMTA plans to install at least five on-street bike corrals each quarter. If you are a business owner – or know someone who is – the SF Bicycle Coalition encourages you to apply today. There is no cost to the business owner, and we can improve safety and boost the local economy together. We know biking means business, so the more bike parking there is, the better.
For more bike corral pictures visit our flickr page.
*State funding provided by the Bay Area Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA), Bicycle Facilities Program (BFP), the County Program Manager’s Program, San Francisco County Transportation Authority(SFCTA) from Prop K Sales tax, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities.
