SDOT looking for new locations for on-street bike parking -- Cha Cha, anyone?

Capitol Hill lost one of its two on-street bike parking options when SDOT removed the rack in front of the Broadway Market QFC late last year. Nobody tried that we know of -- but SDOT now tells CHS they were worried that the rack would be stolen. Now planners are looking for new locations to install a more secure rack design.

SDOT planted three on-street bike parking racks around the city last February -- two of one style (Broadway Market and Green Lake), and another kind at the 12th Ave. location -- the only current Hill location offering on-street bike parking, in front of Stumptown Coffee and Cafe Presse. The Green Lake one ended up getting stolen last fall, which prompted the removal of the Broadway twin, SDOT tells us.

"We wanted to prevent that from happening [at Broadway Market]," said Doug Cox from the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Neighborhood Projects division of SDOT. "The design of the rack made it easier to steal."

We were also told in January that the Broadway rack was removed because of "low usage" by a SDOT spokesperson.

The design of the 12th Ave. on-street bike rack is effective SDOT says and the City has approved eight to ten more for locations around the city yet to be determined, to start appearing around the city in late spring or early summer of this year. The Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board (SBAB) held a meeting Wednesday and presented their ideas on where these racks could go. One suggestion for another Capitol Hill location is in front of the Cha Cha Lounge and Cafe Vita on 11th Ave. and E. Pike St. It seems unlikely a rack will return to the Broadway QFC location.

Where do you think on-street bike parking would be useful on Capitol Hill? SDOT is still considering placement for those racks and are taking your suggestions. Contact Doug Cox and the rest of the bike program at bikeracks@seattle.gov with ideas.