The before picture speaks for itself - no bike rack. Although in the picture it looks like no big deal. In fact it's kind of a nice shot. But how would you feel about leaving your bike out in the open like that and going in for lunch. Even in the safest of communities you would still have that "did I leave the iron on" feeling in your gut. You would also likely try to get a seat by the window or be jumping up every few minutes to check that your bike was still there.
The after shot is a picture of Pierre Avignon, City Councilor Larry McCavitt, Donor Ann Legasse and Liss Campbell in Newburyport MA at the Green Street parking lot. They are standing in front of the first installed bike rack, made possible by the SEED Bike Rack Initiative.
This initiative was carried out by a group of Newburyport SEED (Seacoast Energy and Environmental Design Coalition) volunteers who wanted to promote the fact that biking is more eco-enlightened than driving. And it?s more fun! The group believed that in order to encourage biking, bikers needed a secure place to park and lock their bikes. So in 2006 they began to raise funds for public bike racks.
They solicited private funds for this public project and have raised over $4800 thus far!
How cool is that!