Thank you for your request. We continue to seek out additional bike parking locations at the main library. In the past 12 months, we've added 62 permanent bike parking spaces along the Cambridge St, Ellery St, and Broadway sidewalks as well as in the library garage. We've also added two seasonal bike corrals with 24 additional spaces. The library has requested that we do not installed bicycle parking directly in front of the building. We are unfortunately unable to prevent people from using the benches as they do not remain on the benches long enough for tagging and removal by DPW.

Well, that's a fine pickle. Bicycle parking is happening in front of library now whether the library wants it or not - but in a manner that interferes bench usage. However does that explain why the area directly behind the benches is not being used for bike parking. Is it for aesthetic concerns?

Might I suggest an all hands meeting among the library, CDD, and the Bicycle Committee to brainstorm some solutions here. Nobody wants to lock their bicycle to a bench. The widespread occurrence of this practice in front of the library is a clear signal that current bike parking is woefully inadequate. It's a win all around for people to bike to the library--in terms of noise, congestion, traffic, air quality, health, the environment, and overall quality of life; this is something that the City (and the library!) should be actively and indeed proactively encouraging, including via installation of additional, weatherized bicycle parking.

More bicycle parking is definitely needed, and it needs to be in a place where people naturally want to park. Parking that is unavailable or too far away will simply not work and leads this kind of behavior. A facility which prioritizes convenient bicycle parking will get better results.

Hi Mark and sbercu - your comments are noted. We continue to work with the Library on additional locations, which are in the installation pipeline. We must come to agreement with the Library Dept. in order to install additional racks. As of now, directly in front of the building does not appear to be an option, but we continue to seek solutions that work for all parties.

There is covered bicycle parking in the parking lot of the library that isn't being used.

That's correct - and this area was recently expanded from 10 to 20 spaces. It is directly across from the downstairs entrance. We plan to add wayfinding signs on the surface to help direct people down there.

Issue 4805312 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

any news? one perhaps obvious point is that the current system does not allow dense bike parking.

The library has requested that we do not installed bicycle parking directly in front of the building. We continue to seek out other locations, and have added 62 spaces over the past year. There are now also 20 spaces available in the library garage.

Just curious, and because new to town (and a library & bike nerd): is there a group of people working on this? Some contact people at the library? Is the underground bike parking being used? (As someone previously commented, distant / inconvenient bike parking will probably not work well.)

Please feel free to give me a call (617-349-6012) and I can provide a lot of background and context.

The problem of folks locking bikes to the benches is, in some ways, similar to groups who refuse to build desire paths [https://99percentinvisible.org/article/least-resistance-desire-paths-can-lead-better-design/]. The paths happen because of human nature.

Cyclists often lock their bikes to the benches because they are the closest objects to the library entrance — "the path of least resistance." Especially when running in to the library to grab a book on hold. It would take someone longer to park a bike underground than it would to actually run in and grab the book.

Instead of resisting bike racks closest to the door, the library may want to reconsider their position. Or, redesign the benches so one cannot lock a bike to it them.

I'm all for repositioning the benches to close any gap that could be used to lock bikes. Maybe we could end up with enough space for an addition bench.

Why does the library not want people riding bikes there? Seems strange for librarians to be anti-bike.

I'm one of the folks who locks my bike there when bringing my daughter to the library on a regular basis. It is ridiculous for the librarys position to be "they don't want bike racks out front". Who sets that policy? Please name them so we can know who to confront about this.

Why doesn’t the library want a bike rack there? It is the only logical place - the further away the bike rack, the less likely people will find it - and they should be encouraging people to come and visit.

Thomas, we don’t need to confront them my friend, but we need to have a conversation, understand and find the right solution for all. Above there is a Community Dev post with a tele #, perhaps call the number an ask?

The issue with the notices about the covered bike parking in the lot is that people on bikes don't regularly look out for car parking facilities. The lot is out of the way of the paths people on bikes take to the library, and therefore out of mind. My own path looks something like this - From Broadway or Cambridge, I turn onto the paths and ride to the bike parking area on the left near the playground, since that is closest to the front library entrance, and only if that is full do I look for other bike racks on the right or resort to locking to the benches. I'm at this branch at least once a week, always on a bike, and I would lock up to any number of non-rack structures in the yard before I thought to head underground with the cars. I try to stay away from the benches, but more racks are really needed here.

When the scarce resource runs out, some people choose to break the rules. People park cars in bus lane, tow zone or bike lane, bikers chain bike to the nearest fixed object, people leave their dogs tied to nearest fixed object as well.
Asking people to park their car underground and pay for parking to go to the library seems to be a bridge too far for bikes that expect free, convenient parking. There is a drop off bin in the garage that works for walkers, bikes and cars and the slot in the side of the building for bikes and walkers.

Hi folks - I wanted to let this group know that there is a Participatory Budgeting proposal for a bike shelter at the main library. The fifth Participatory Budgeting Vote is from December 1-7, 2018. Cambridge residents age 12 and older, including non-US citizens and university students, are able to vote for up to 5 PB projects on the ballot. View the full ballot here: https://pb.cambridgema.gov/pbcycle5

Great idea - Cambridge residents age 12 and older, including non-US citizens and university students, are able to vote for up to 5 PB projects on the ballot. View the full ballot here: https://pb.cambridgema.gov/pbcycle5

Not sure what the status is on this in Nov 2020. But could it be that the library's architects are behind this, not wanting more "messy" bike racks in front of their beautiful building?

I am sure it could. But the reality is they did get the "messy bikes attached to the benches".

I can state I will resume parking in front of the library, regardless of whether racks are available. I will not park 300ft away and walk when I can roll 290ft and walk 10ft.
I find a busy bike rack actually beautiful and an indication of a lively place with activity.