Sacramento's old parking meters become bike racks

They are no longer ticking, but some of Sacramento's retired parking meters are being reborn as bicycle racks.

One hundred of the 4-foot-tall metal poles that lost their heads when the city converted to solar-powered parking pay stations are being fitted with eye-pleasing bike racks, primarily along J Street from Eighth Street to 28th Street.

Each rack being bolted to the silver poles consists of a roughly 20-inch diameter circle with a bike sculpted inside it. The materials: galvanized steel wrapped in shiny green thermoplastic to prevent bikes from getting scratched.

When in use, the racks will leave plenty of room for motorists to get in and out of their cars, said Howard Chan, the city's parking services manager.

"The racks are facing the sidewalk, so when you lock your bike against a rack, there's no conflict at all," Chan said last week. "There will be no problem."

Each rack will securely accommodate two bikes.

About 50 of the new racks were in place a week ago, with the rest expected to be installed by Friday.

If the racks prove to be a hit, the city may install more later, city officials said.

Manufactured by Creative Metalworks LLC of Oregon, the racks cost about $135 each. The city's Transportation Department will spend an additional $2,000 to install all 100.

The racks will enhance Sacramento's reputation as a bicyclist's paradise, said Ed Cox, the city's bike and pedestrian coordinator.

"In 2006, the city received the distinction of being considered bicycle-friendly by the League of American Bicyclists, a national organization," Cox said. "We received a bronze rating."

The racks, he said, may help the city earn a silver, gold or platinum rating.

"We're always looking for ways to (strengthen) our bike-friendly status, Cox added.

In Sacramento, bicycles have always gravitated to old-fashioned parking meters.

"People with certain kinds of locks could lock their bicycles to the metal parking meters," Cox said.

Although some city officials frowned on the practice, there has never been a local code banning the securing of two-wheelers to parking meters, he said.

"I'm not aware of any ordinance in the city code for that," Cox said. "And I've never heard of anyone in Sacramento getting cited for that."

Because the city is sign-heavy, no new signs are going up for the bike racks, city officials said.

Any such signs would be redundant, according to David Fontaine, 27, a midtown bicyclist.

"I think the new bike racks are self-explanatory. If you ride a bike, you'd be able to figure out," Fontaine said, after locking his Beachcruiser bicycle on one of them in front of Lucca Restaurant and Bar near 16th and J streets.

Fontaine, who was dropping off a job application at Lucca, said he likes the new racks.

"They're more artistic than regular bike racks," he said. "It's making good use of old parking meters."

But the new racks have confused some motorists, including Rene Aguilera, a state worker.

"I was parking my car by J and 14th streets when I saw … a green metal circle with a small bike in the middle," Aguilera, 46, said.

"I thought to myself, 'Can I park here – or is this space for motorcyclists?' " he said.

Not knowing the answer, Aguilera played it safe. He parked somewhere else.

"These bike racks don't look like bike racks. They look like public art," he said.

Aguilera doesn't own a bicycle, much less ride one.

Told of Aguilera's comments, Chan said:

"Despite the best intentions, some people have their own interpretations … of what the bike racks mean. But I think it's fairly straightforward – they have a bike in the middle."

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Edgar Sanchez, (916) 321-1088.