A Philadelphia First - City Offering In-Street Bike Corrals To Philly Businesses

Philadelphia is taking a major step towards improving its bicycling infrastructure and its economy with a new program they are announcing this week: free in-street bike corrals to interested Philadelphia businesses.

The new corrals won't look like this one on Walnut &
Sydenham, but will provide parking for 12 bikes

We brought the first in-street bike corral to Philadelphia last September, turning one car parking spot into 14 bicycle parking spots. The corral has been a huge success: always in use, and facilitating commuting, errands, and shopping in Center City.

Now the Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities (MOTU) is offering 10 in-street bike corrals to interested businesses. 

The application process is open now and runs until May 30th. The racks are free to businesses who complete the application. If your business or property has more demand for bike parking than can be met by sidewalk racks, this is your opportunity to get an in-street bike parking corral in front of your place of business!

Here is the announcement from the Mayor's Office of Transportation and Utilities:

Following the successful pilot last fall of an in-street bike parking rack on Sydenham St. just south of Walnut St in Center City, our office received numerous requests from businesses around the City to provide in street bike parking. Starting this month, MOTU will be soliciting applications from businesses and organizations who want to convert a single car parking space in front of their building into parking spaces for 12 bicycles. We will be awarding up to 10 of these racks free of charge to applicants who prove that they meet the criteria outlined in application packet.

Interested businesses or organizations are required to complete the following steps:

• Determine if their location meets space requirements
• Provide evidence that their location has a high and unmet demand for bicycle parking
• Complete the application form
• Acquire letters of approval from their district City Council representative

One of 80 bike corrals installed in Portland, OR

This program will follow the examples set by peer cities across the country including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland Oregon, and Milwaukee in which a single car parking space is converted into parking spaces for multiple bicycle parking.

Applications are due May 30th, but those submitted by May 15th will get preferential treatment. Download the application here!