New bike racks for parks and village centers

The city plans to install 86 new bicycle racks in Newton parks and village centers next year — at almost no cost to Newton — providing 262 new spaces for bicycle parking.

The $20,000 cost of the racks will be reimbursed through the Regional Bike Parking Program administered by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The program’s funding comes from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

Bikes line a handrail at the Highland T Station.

Newton will pay only the shipping costs and whatever installation costs are incurred by the Department of Public Works.

Racks include simple hitches for two bicycles parked on a sidewalk and and larger racks that can accommodate seven bikes. A few rack designs are whimsical — a fork, spoon, ice cream cone, coffee cup — and a handful of these might be located in village centers.

A hitch rack can accommodate two bikes. (Source: Dero Bike Rack Co.)

Newton Transportation Planning Coordinator David Koses has been working for the past several months on selecting eligible racks and identifying locations in village centers and parks where may be needed. Koses has solicited input from community groups — including Bike Newton, the Newton Bicycle/Pedestrian Task Force, and Newton Villages — and from ward aldermen.

Please email me if you would like to request a list of proposed locations or if you have an idea where racks are needed. Or, comment below.