News Releases
LCC Planning & Development Department
August 30, 2011
Lane Community College and City partner on unique bike corrals
The artistic and functional bike racks provide more parking spaces for downtown riders
Starting next week, Eugene area bike riders will be able to experience a little art when they park their bikes at two downtown locations. The City of Eugene partnered with Lane Community College (LCC) art instructor Lee Imonen and his students over the last year to design and create three artistic bike corrals for downtown. Two of the corrals will be "christened" with their first bike locking on Thursday, September 8th starting at 10:30 AM at 450 Willamette Street. The uniquely Eugene bike corrals reflect the city's nationally ranked biking system in an artistic and creative way that also promotes downtown vitality.
A bike corral converts an on-street parking space or other unused curb space for bicycle parking. The two new corrals will be located in front of Morning Glory Café on Willamette and the Kiva Grocery Store at 125 West 11th Avenue. Another corral is planned for 207 East 5th Avenue, in front of the Cornucopia Restaurant.
Combining the bike corrals with public art was inspired by the City of Eugene's 2010 Public Art Plan which calls for integrating art into everyday objects from lighting fixtures to bicycle racks. The project serves a number of City goals including:
- promoting alternative transportation;
- incorporating art into parking;
- reinvesting parking funds where they are collected;
- increasing bike parking downtown; and
- reinforcing the creative, distinctive culture of downtown.
In addition, the project was another opportunity for the City to work with students in the community. While the City benefited from the donation of design work and labor from the instructor and students, LCC students got real world experience in helping shape their community. They also learned more about Eugene's history and culture by researching the design concepts and locations.
Students in last fall's Art 117: Three Dimensional Basic Design came up with nine different designs for the downtown bike corrals. The public reviewed and commented on the designs while they were on display in the Atrium and the Eugene Public Library during January and February. A selection committee composed of the City's Public Art Committee, Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and other stakeholders reviewed public input and determined the winning designs.
Similar to the Neighborhood Matching Grant program, the city provided approximately $4,000 for each bike corral which was matched (and exceeded) with in-kind donations of design work and thousands of hours of labor from Imonen and his students. The expense was shared across three city programs including parking, public art, and transportation to meet shared goals.
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Public information officer: Joan Aschim, (541) 463-5591, aschimj@lanecc.edu
Contact: Laura Hammond, Community Outreach Coordinator, 541-682-6021
