New bike racks protected from the elements

When is a bike rack something more than a bike rack? How about when it's indoors, protected from the elements, and created by a local artist.

Tim Wojtyniak, board member of the Open Roads Bike Program, a non-profit youth development program, created and designed one of the bike racks commissioned by Downtown Kalamazoo Inc.

Wojtyniak worked with Open Roads to create secure, handmade bike racks out of discarded bicycle parts.

The Open Roads Bike Program uses bicycles to teach social skills and bicycle mechanics to the local youth. Bikes are used to teach to young people social skills they can use in the real world, says Open Roads program director Ethan Alexander. The program generates revenue for its work through used bicycle sales and services.

The rack Wojtyniak worked with Open Roads created is one of two now located inside. The rack can be found in the Kalamazoo Mall Parking Ramp, next to Rave Motion Pictures and Willow Salon at the South Street entrance. Another rack has been placed in the Arcadia Parking Ramp at Eleanor Street.

DKI wanted to provide an an accessible, convenient, and dry location for cyclists to store their bikes while visiting downtown. 

"We will continue to provide safe bike access and storage opportunities to the downtown area as budgets allow," says Steve Deisler, vice president of planning and development at DKI.

Across the downtown, in other locations there are racks for at least 50 bikes.

Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated is a private, nonprofit organization that works with both the public and private sectors in preserving and enhancing the economic health of Kalamazoo’s downtown area. It manages capital improvement projects, business development programs, to image marketing, event planning and more.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave
Source: Vicky Kettner, Downtown Kalamazoo Inc.