The first city of Tempe bicycle parklet, a bicycle parking rack the size of a compact
vehicle, located on Mill Avenue outside of The Handlebar Tempe has moved to what
Tempe City officials call a busier bike location on the corner of Veterans Way and
College Avenue in Downtown Tempe.
Amanda Nelson, city of Tempe Community Relations Officer confirmed the relocation
that happened on Friday, Nov. 18.
“There were no problems with the former location, the move was to accommodate the
area with a higher demand for a structure to lock bicycles to,” Nelson said.
The demand is due to the light rail station across Veteran’s Way and Arizona State
University’s Tempe campus down College Avenue drawing bicyclists, according to
Nelson.
“Bicycle theft is the number one crime reported to the ASU police department,” Katy
Harris said, Media Relations Specialist for the department.
“The large amount of students on campus that ride bicycles during the school year draws
thief’s from on campus and off,” Sgt. Josie Montenegro said, with the ASU police
department.
To combat bike theft, students are encouraged to lock their bicycles to a sturdy,
immovable object in a well-lit area, in addition to registering it through the law
enforcement’s national database and purchasing a U-Lock, hard metal lock, in place of a
cable with the potential to be cut, according to Sgt. Montenegro.
The parklet was designed and fabricated by the city of Tempe and holds 20 bicycles, in
addition to being an immovable object for cyclists to lock their bicycle to, according to
Nelson.
The structure can be temporarily moved with the proper city equipment; that is how it
was moved from its original location to where it is currently and was also moved off of
the street during the Mill Avenue fair.
The new location fills a street parking space outside of University House an apartment
building that commonly houses ASU students and sees visitors arrive on bicycles
frequently said University House employee, Tyler Elbert, 22.
Elbert said, he has personally never seen the bikes rack available empty, “There are
typically four or five at all times.”
“The bike racks along the sidewalks are crowded most of the time and I am not a fan of
locking my bike and laying it on top of another,” Sherrod Spellman said, a 24-year- old
Jimmy John’s deliveryman, and a cyclist planning to use the parklet at its new location.
“This new structure seems like it could fit more bikes.”
Jimmy John’s, located at the base of University House, is one of several restaurants the
parklet could provide bicycle parking to.
The parklet was placed on Mill Avenue in May 2015.
Kate Borders, President of the Downtown Tempe Authority, initiated the move according
to Susan Taffe of the city of Tempe Transportation Department. Borders said the new
location would accommodate more people.
The former General Manager, Mark Walters, of The Handlebar Tempe, influenced the
original location. The Handlebar Tempe is known for its bicycle theme and for drawing a
crowd of cyclists, according to Nelson.
5 out of the 6 Jimmy John’s employee’s at work who ride a bike to work are hesitant to
use the parklet, they said, because it is located in the street.
The rectangular structure has neon-disks as wheels along two-sides and the city of Tempe
logo stamped.
The departments are working collectively in this instance towards the common goal of
reducing bike theft by providing affordable, immovable solutions for people frequenting
the campus.
The ASU police department does not log the number of returned bicycles, said Harris,
because a majority of the time the bicycle does not get returned.
There are currently no plans to build another bicycle parklet.
If you are a victim of bike theft on the ASU campus, contact the ASU police department
non-emergency line, 480-965- 3456.
Questions and concerns about the parklet can be directed to Taffe at 480-350- 8663.
