Belmont Zeros In On Sites for Bike Racks

The Transportation Subcommittee of the decided to make schools and playgrounds the first priorities over commercial property for the bike rack installation that is part of the effort in making Belmont a more cycle-friendly town.

Peter Castanino joined today’s, Feb. 8 meeting to give the subcommittee the facts on the town’s capacity to install the bike racks and also inform them on challenges of past bike rack installations in the commercial arena.

“Some challenges (is) mostly in finding space. The sidewalks are not wide the public parking lots do not have a lot of space, plus the size of the bicycle has to be considered,” said Castanino.

Castanino also mentioned that finding a spot that business owners feel does not intrude on their proprieties space has also been a challenge in the past.

But once those criteria are met it does not necessarily mean the rack will be used by the public. Case in point Castanino spoke of the rack in Cushing Square near the cafe.

“That was the only space we could find without poles without parked cars and that the businesses didn’t object to,” he said.

Popular but unused

Members have to weigh those challenges along with finding a spot that is ideal for a biker to park the two-wheel ride. They were interested in knowing why the mentioned bike rack was not widely used.

Member Christine McVay said she had brief communication with the headmasters and principals of the town’s schools and found that most were responsive to having bike racks placed on school property.

As the money for bike racks will come from a state funded grant the installation will be done by the DPW, however, in this situation members were open to the idea that  schools would prefer to determine the site of the rack on their own property.

“There is an installation guideline so we can use that to figure out the preferable amount for the schools and then take that information to them and see if they agree and if they have the resources to install them,” suggestedGlenn Clancy.

Clancy informed members that because the Trapelo Road/Belmont Street Corridor Project is 75 percent complete, bike racks are not in the current design. However he and members agreed that they should wait until the design is complete before deciding where bike racks could be placed.

Furthermore, other areas of the town have construction projects that are not solidified pushing back plans for bike racks in the commercial area to the background and brining schools and playgrounds to the forefront.

Business centers limbo

“Waverly Square, Cushing Square and Belmont center are in limbo. So maybe we should take a step back and look at the areas that are free and clear," said Clancy. “It would seem that the installation would be easier on a school or playground than on a sidewalk in a commercial area.”

Energy Committee Cochairman Ian Todreas said it is possible to dip into the grant fund two separate times.

Members agreed that funds should be sought once the amount for the playgrounds and schools are determined.

But one major hurdle the members still have to overcome is coming up with the initial money to buy the bike racks and the DPW finding time to install them.

“I am not sure how to get the town to front the money because you have to pay first and then be reimbursed,” Clancy said that he is working on talking to town officials about the upfront cost.  

Castanino was honest with members, saying that while the DPW is behind the project, their primary responsibilities are determined by outside forces such as snowstorms, a microburst and construction issues to name a few. He can guarantee that the racks would be installed within the required three month window.

“If it was three months of beautiful weather and no construction issues great (but unlikely); I cannot guarantee anything because outside weather and circumstances drives what we do,” he said.