Bike Rack opening and green sharrows

CLEVELAND - Call it a ‘soft opening’ like restaurants have, but nonetheless, the long-awaited Bike Rack is opening Friday. A ceremonial grand opening with Mayor Frank Jackson will happen at later date.

A partnership between the city of Cleveland and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, the facility is a place for cyclists to lock their bikes, have repairs done but most importantly take a shower.

“By offering a storage facility that’s safe and secure, accessible 24 hours a day, they’ll have opportunities to store their bike,” said John Sirignano operations manager for the facility located at East Fourth Street in the Gateway North garage by the Q.

“And by offering the shower and locker room they’ll have opportunities to be hygienic and not scare off the co-workers,” he said.

While aimed at cycling commuters, The Bike Rack is welcoming casual cyclists visiting the East Fourth Street area as well.

Daily and monthly passes are offered and bike rentals will be available. For more information, check out Clevelandbikerack.com

Green sharrows coming to Ohio

The name sounds like an exotic bird but green sharrows are actually road markings signaling a sharing of the roadway by vehicles and bicycles.

The Ohio Department of Transportation recently approved an interim program to allow the green painted bike lanes in the state.

Studies in the Portland, Ore., area and elsewhere have shown drivers are more aware of shared pavement when the lanes are painted green and in intersections with the markings, and they create a safer experience for driver and cyclist.

At a recent Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating (NOACA) Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting, participants raised concerns about the ability of communities to paint the green lanes and the cost of maintaining the green sharrows.

Studies also looked at using red or blue, but blue was discounted as it currently the international symbol of accessibility parking and red is being considered for future use.

A moving experience

In what may be a Cleveland cycling community first, about 10 people helped Frank Lanza move from one apartment to another using only bikes and bike trailers. The distance of the move in Lakewood was 2.3 miles.

Jeff Sugalski helped and posted on his Facebook page, “Not only did we get the job done very effectively and sustainably, but the bike move gives the bike scene in Cleveland some new cred.”

Lights, camera, Critical Mass

The monthly Critical Mass ride usually begins at Public Square but because the filming the Avengers has the Square blocked. On Friday, Aug. 26, riders will gather at the Mall by Key Tower at 6:30 p.m. and depart at 7 p.m.