HomeMy WebLinkAbout0397.094i . '. ,
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July 26, 1994
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto, California
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powntqwn On-Street Bike Parking perno[~X-4tion on Hamilton Avenue
Members of the Council:
This is an inforroational report regarding the recent .installation
of an on-street bicycle parking area in front of Caffo Verona at
236 Hamilton Avenue; no council action is required.
In r~cent years the Trangportation Division has continued to
receive l,"equests from businesses and bicycle users for the
installation of bike parKir.g facilities in the downtown area.
Typically, statf works to try to cr~ate bicycle parking at
locations where it is convenient and likely to be used, and does
not illlpede pedestrian traffic or access to adjacent peU':king ..
Individual bike rac)(s have been installed along the full length of
university Avenue, multiple bike racks have been installed in areas
where space permits (intersection bulbouts along uni versity Avt~nue
and a variety of unique locations 'Where space permits). One
approach that is used in several cities, but has not been tried in
palo ,Alto, is the installation of bike racks within the portion of
a roadway normally, utiliz.ed for vehicle parking.
one such. request for additional parking came from Caffe Verona,
which bas many customers who ride bikes. At times, the number and
manner in which bicycles accumUlate in front of Caffe Verona raises
concerns about pedestrian safety on the sidewalk,
Due to the narrowness of the sidewalk and the lack of suitable
space for bicycle parking, staff developed a trial plan for the
conversion of two on-street parking spacea to a bike parking area,
whi~h can accou~odate up to eight bicycles. The bike parking area
is shielded from the adjacent parking spaces by raised berms( to
protect the bicycles and riders from the movements of cars pulling
in and out of the adjacent spaces, !f this typs of installation
were to be made perlilanent, staff would restripe the existing
parking stalls on this block face and regain one vehicle parking
space.
CHR'397:94
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Becau •• the bike parkinq includes the use ot raised berms, Public
Works $taft raised the concern that the City street sweeper will
not ~ ... ble to .\leep ... lthln the blke par~ing area and abuttln9
area. of the two adjacent vehiclo parkin~ spaces. As a condition
ot the In.t.llatlon, Cafte Verona manAge.ent has agreed to monitor
th' area reqularly and s·"eep or clean it as needed.
While the installation is the result of a request that originated
fro. catt. Varona, and ,they have aqreed to help keep it clean t the
installation 1s Available to, and intended to serve the needs of,
CUBtQlK\X"S and businesses in the entire 200 block. of Hamilton
Avenue, not-just Caffe Verona.
statf con.idol$. this tp 00 a de!lonstration project, with an initial
trail period of six .onthe. Staff will be monitoring the project
with re$pect to operational and safety impacts, and usage patterns.
If problelbs ;,;rise which indicate that th~ desiqn is not
::iati6factory, atatt 'Will takE! tile necessary steps to modify or
re:=ova the in5t ... ll~tion.
Tho present design (size and sha.pe) for ti~e d~Hnonstration is based
prinarily upon user safety anlt convenience, and minimization of
cost considerations and is not an aesthetic design. Once more is
known about tho suitability of the si~e and shape, and if usage is
judged to warrant the displacenent or on-street parkin9 spaces, and
it a dec~sion is made to pursue a permanent installation, a more
aesthetic desiqn ~ill be developed.
'I'h9 costs tor the present installation are ~init'lal and were covered
'Within the existing City operating budget. A more permanent design
could cost' as much as $5,000 to $10,000 'With potential funding
coming frQ~ the Cityts traditional ~nnuRl application tor State TDA
funds, or fro~ bicycle related rt!quirements associated with the
development projects in the downtown area.
At the present tie;e, stafl seQS the potential for a, limited number
{5 to 6) of similar-applications but not a 'Widespread
proliferation. The basic criteria of substantial need for bicycle
par:k.iru;J, no ,other readily aVl'oi lable and reasonably convenient
space, and favorable support fro~ the adjacent. bUsiness o'Wner, are
likely suppressants to any significant potential expansion.
Thi~ project has the support of the Palo Alto Bicycle Advisory
COJlJllittee and is prp,sently included as. one of the recommended
Transportation Programs in the current draft of the CPAC Policies
and Proqrams.
CKR:397:94 7/28/94
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MARVIN L. OVKRWAY
Chief Transportation
Offidal
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City Manaqer
CC: Ken Artunian, Cafte Verona
REN.~IITH R. SCHREIBER
Director of Planninq and
Coamunity Environaent
Susan Frank, Chamber of CQ~arce
Palo Alto Bicycle Advi~ory Committee
CIIR:397:94 7/2S{94
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