Commuting on my bike has become one of my biggest passions these last couple of years and I see it as a significant way to reduce waste, improve health and well being, reduce traffic, and lower carbon emissions. I see infrastructure improvements as the best way to get others to utilize sustainable transportation options like biking and using the bus. My goal is to help improve the city I was raised in and love, help reduce waste, by improving cycling infrastructure for it's citizens.

I've taken most of my inspiration from the bike rack in the alleyway of Webster's Bookstore and Cafe, my vision is to make a larger rack with a rain cover outside of Abba Java. This rack will have the capacity to hold 16 bikes, and keep them protected from the elements. I strongly believe that this can all be done for significantly less than what municipal bike racks costs. This type of project will reduce waste by saving old bikes from being thrown away and instead give them a new purpose. It will also have a global impact, by the high traffic to Abba Java by students, seeing sustainable bike infrastructure will inspire them to advocate for this in their hometowns.

I've included photos of the bike racks I have been inspired by, and a rough sketch of what the bike rack I want to create will look like. I met with the borough manager Tom Fountaine last week to discuss this project and he's very interested in this project and willing to help out in any way he can. I have set up meeting with Jasmine Fields of the sustainability office and Rev. Sarah Voight of Abba Java to discuss this project and get approval to begin design and construction. I'm in the process of connecting and meeting with the Planning Director, Zoning Officer, and Lt. Barrett Smith to discuss how this infrastructure can be implemented into the cities improvement projects.

Let me know what you think, I'm searching for areas where I could install these, and I'd really like to help give back to the city that helped me.