FREEHOLD – Two Freehold Borough residents have proposed placing bicycle racks throughout the town’s downtown district.
Residents Margy Jahn and Linda Brown appeared before the Borough Council during a recent meeting to present their proposal. Jahn and Brown suggested seven locations for the bicycle racks.
One location was the bus station, Throckmorton Street, where there are currently three five-bike racks and two seven-bike racks. Jahn and Brown proposed adding two five-bike racks ($558 total cost).
At the Triangle Parking Lot, where there is no legal bike parking, Jahn and Brown proposed one nine-bike rack ($505 total cost).
The Market Yard parking lot currently has one five-bike rack. Jahn and Brown proposed another five-bike rack and two 18-bike racks ($1,393 total cost).
There is no bike parking on Lafayette Street near a county parking lot. Jahn and Brown proposed two five-bike racks ($558 total cost).
At El Meson, West Main Street, which has one five-bike rack, Jahn and Brown proposed adding one 18-bike rack ($557 total cost).
The CVS/CPC Behavioral Healthcare parking lot has one five-bike rack, which Jahn and Brown said is difficult to see from the street and the parking lot. They proposed adding two nine-bike racks ($798 total cost).
Finally, Jahn and Brown proposed placing decorative bicycle racks at an entrance to the downtown area. They said those racks would increase exposure for the Downtown Freehold logo and provide space for a sign informing people not to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. The total cost for three two-bike racks would be $1,938.
The total cost of all the proposals is $7,733.
Council President Sharon Shutzer said it would be important to inform business owners about the bike racks before potentially placing them in front of a business. Councilman George Schnurr concurred with Shutzer on that point.
Councilman Michael DiBendetto, who owns Joe’s Barber Shop, South Street, asked if there would be any bicycle racks on South Street. Jahn and Brown said that is a possibility.
Noting a suggestion made by Police Chief Glenn Roberts, Councilman Kevin Kane said a time limit must be set as to how long a bicycle may be left in a bike rack.
“We don’t want these racks loaded up with the bikes sitting there all the time,” Kane said.
Councilman Ron Griffiths spoke in favor of Jahn and Brown’s bicycle rack proposal and said, “We look forward to its eventual execution.”
