On the eve of elections and at the tail end of both Council President Bill Bias and Councilwoman Nancy Bain’s 20-plus year careers, Athens City Council focused on improving citywide bicycle parking, as well as long overdue sewer repairs.
In efforts to make Athens more accommodating to cyclists, Councilwoman Chris Fahl proposed an ordinance to add bicycle parking throughout Athens.
“We are trying to increase bicycle and pedestrian access in the city,” Fahl said. “We want to increase safety for those using bicycles in Athens.”
The plan requires all new commercial retail stores and restaurants to have a minimum of four bicycle parking spaces near their facilities. If these establishments are larger than 10,000 square feet, an additional two spaces will be added, according to the ordinance.
In addition, bicycle parking will also be added to new multi-unit residential facilities with a minimum of one parking space per bedroom.
Mayor Paul Wiehl said adding more bicycle parking would help further Athens’ goals of biker accessibility throughout the city, similar to a bike and pedestrian plan proposed two years ago.
“We want to have more accommodations for bicycles as well as cars,” Wiehl said. “Bike riders have said Athens has a dreadful lack of bike racks.”
Wiehl added the ordinance would only affect new businesses and residences because the city cannot pass a law asking old businesses to change their parking.
Along with the bike parking improvements, Councilman Jim Sands addressed the need to repair the sewer line that runs under Columbus Road.
Sands moved to appropriate $35,000 from the Sewer Maintenance Fund to complete repairs of the large storm line.
“We need to get this repaired as soon as possible,” Sands said.
Wiehl added that he and Andy Stone, the Athens Public Works Director, believe the repairs need to happen immediately or after the winter.
“(Stone) would like to see this done sooner rather than later,” Wiehl said.
io312410@ohiou.edu
