Drum roll please . . . . New bike racks are coming soon to Humboldt State University! After months of hard work crafting the HSU Bicycle Planning Advisory Document, hosting a community forum and working with the HSU Parking & Transportation Committee which adopted the advisory document, we may finally have the first results from the plan. It seemed like the sun, moon and stars aligned on that fateful autumn day when Gary Krietsch, Facilities Manager, and Steve Sullivan, Parking & Commuter Services, both arrived at the October 8 meeting with separate bicycle rack proposals in hand. Finally, our rusty “T”-racks would be replaced; no more cables to cut our hands and no more curious head-scratching while we tried to figure out how to use these racks.

But alas, Gary and Steve had separate proposals outlining several different types of racks! What to do? Heated debate followed as we discussed the pros and cons of the “upside-down clothes-hanger” rack, the “serpentine” rack or the “upside-down D or U” rack (as Bike Plan recommended). How much do they cost? How many bolts does each rack need? What kind of maintenance is needed? Is a weather-resistant powder-coating available? And, most importantly, how can we get students to actually use bicycle racks rather than railings, stop signs and light posts? With all the discussion, it was apparent that a separate ad-hoc committee was needed.

The ad-hoc committee met on a Tuesday morning in Nelson Hall and rapidly came to a consensus using the HSU Bicycle Planning Advisory Document. Our first item on the agenda was to agree on an appropriate bicycle rack. As bicycle commuters, we are a big fan of the inverted D or U rack (see photo) because of its two-point locking system and ability to lock anywhere along the rail. They are a bit more expensive to install than the wave racks seen outside the Depot, but they are easier to use, offer more stability for locked bikes, and don’t scratch the paint of the bikes locked to them. Check out the “inverted U racks” (previous page) at the new BSS building and jump up and down for joy and thank the powers-that-be who used a student-written document for campus planning purposes.

It may take months or even years to replace the existing “T-racks” with the new inverted U or D rack but we did identify areas that needed new racks ASAP. We all know it rains in Humboldt County and how nice it is to park our bicycle underneath a cover so racks in covered areas will be the first to be replaced. Green Wheels always appreciates more input related to bicycle infrastructure and development. Please come to weekly Green Wheels HSU (for time and location, see www.green-wheels.org/hsu/meetings). What will we tackle next? We’d love a “Bike Station,” our working name for a facility that would include services like bike lockers and help with bike maintenance all under one roof, but as a start, we’re drafting a proposal for bicycle lockers scattered around campus. Join a meeting to be part of making our campus healthier, safer, and more sustainable.