Friday, October 11, 2024

New bike racks in Mandan to enhance infrastructure

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MANDAN, N.D. (KFYR) – Mandan has more opportunities for cyclists to keep their bikes safe.

Bikes are secure while getting maintenance from Jared Fuchs at 701 Cycle and Sport, and now they will be safe on the streets with these new racks.

“It promotes people getting out and being able to rest their bike somewhere, feel safer about it’s easier to lock up a bike on a bike rack just because it fits better, and it’s easier to lock the bicycle,” said Jared Fuchs, associate manager.

Twenty-five of these were purchased for Main Street after a city survey showed they were in demand among cyclists.

“Over the years, it’s grown pretty considerably. Covid had a great boost to it. In the time period since then, it’s probably leveled out a little bit,” said Fuchs.

He said the enthusiasm for biking hasn’t diminished.

“I guess we’d love to see more bicycle lanes and places where we could ride on the roads, versus just bike paths, because bike paths don’t feel as safe all the time with people, pedestrians walking or walking dogs or whatever,” said Fuchs.

Mandan City Planner Andrew Stromme said they want to include more bike racks in future street projects.

“It’s our hope that the bike racks provide another option for folks to get to the events and businesses in downtown Mandan with another way to get around. We hope that folks can have an active and healthy way to get to downtown,” said Stromme.

He said he hopes this will also elevate downtown Mandan and boost economic development.

The bike racks were awarded to the city through an AARP Community Challenge grant.

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