Dear Santa Monica Public Library –

We need more bike racks.

I love that our city has bike racks at our libraries! But please give us more of ‘em. It’s around 4 pm on a Monday afternoon, and the bike racks are v. full at the main library.

You’ll notice that the full racks are now forcing people to lock their bikes in random places — This one to the right, for ex, is taking up part of the handicapped lane / ramp.

It’s likely that someone in a wheelchair would have trouble getting by between the street lamp and the bike. It’s a convenience issue, it’s a safety issue, and an equal access issue — all of which could be solved by adding bike racks! :)

I’ve noticed that we have a huge underground parking garage — with a whopping 525 spots! — that’s like never full, despite the fact that you charge only a dollar an hour!

This, I hope you’ll agree, only encourages more driving — which is a lil odd, since the library’s mainly for the people in our ‘hood and should hopefully encourage more walking and biking (and thus more neighborly interactions), NOT driving…

Since our library’s already all ’bout the environment — being LEED certified and all — perhaps we can do more to encourage bike use by having plentiful, inviting bike racks that’re at least as secure as the parking lot. And if we need more money to do it, perhaps we can raise the car parking prices to a level above dirt-cheap…

BTW — I’m writing this via the CityWifi, free at the library! Thanks for providing this great service :)

Bikefully yours –
Siel
_______

I’m sending this letter to the Santa Monica Public Library administration via this web form, with a request for a response. I’m also emailing it to the library board, at library.board@smgov.net.

Hope all you other cyclers in Santa Monica will do the same –

Update, 8/26/07: We got more bike racks!!

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