Bicycle Parking Campaign

As the construction for the Garfield remodel has progressed the Garfield YMCA Earth Service Corps has been trying to ensure we have adequate bike parking at the site.  Our goal is to have bike parking that is in a safe and convenient location to the School, Gym, Auditorium and Teen Life Center.  We would like to see a bike rack area instead of racks scattered randomly around campus.  We would also like to see at least some of the racks covered to protect the bikes from the weather. 
 The Garfield YMCA Earth Service Corps sponsors a Bike to School Day once a month with the hope of increasing bike commuting and limiting carbon emissions. When Ballard and Roosevelt put in covered bike racks on campus the number of students bike commuting to school increased.  We are hoping to achieve the same.
We have known all along there is no money in the remodel budget for covered bike racks. We are aware of the Neighborhood Grant process and may head in that direction at some point. For now though we feel with a prominent public project in the Central District of Seattle and a school site where we will be using Metro and not Yellow Buses, it is a perfect place for the Mayor to highlight quality bike parking as part of the Master Bike Plan and up and pay for the cover out of that plan.
We are writing letters to Mayor Nickels and are asking you to join us.  It can be long or even very short. Every voice counts.  Our goal is to send them all within the month of Jan.  I've attached a list of "talking points" to help. You may also use any points from this letter or your own ideas.  Any letter of any length helps.  At the bottom of the letter there is a mailing address and a link to send an e-mail.
- Bike commuting is part of the high school curriculum. It supports health education,      environmental studies and economics.
 
- Garfield High School will be a major gathering place for the Central District. There is a Community    Center, a Public Pool, a Teen Life Center, a comprehensive high school, an auditorium, a gym and a major playfield.
 - It is not only a high use area, it is also very public. A well built and covered bike parking area will help people realize the value and importance of bike commuting.
- The racks would be a model for future development projects.
 
- Covered bike racks are essential to maintain safe bikes. Bikes remain dry and clean, gear is not abused by the sun and elements. Bikes in a prominent, well     maintained bike space will be safer from theft.
 
- City of Seattle is developing a Master Bike Plan to promote more bike commuting.     What better way than    to build a model bike rack system in a prominent civic      location. The covered racks will be an example for both other public projects and     private businesses. 
- The Garfield remodel will spend many thousands of dollars on car parking. Why  not for bikes?
 
Mayor Greg Nickles
P.O. Box 94749
Seattle, WA 98124-4749
 
You can send an e-mail to the mayor by using the link below from his homepage.
http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/citizen_response.htm
 
Any questions, contact Earth Service Corps Members at Garfield or Mr. Truax @ Garfield