School Parking
A new bike corral was recently installed in front of the Brooklyn Heights Montessori School on Bergen Street near the corner of Court Street. When I rode by this morning, a couple of people were in the process of locking up.
The corral has space for ten bikes, and the wide gap between two of the hoops seems ideal for a cargo bike or two. While it was quiet this morning, the corral is bound to see some heavy action once school starts up again in the fall. Parents pedaling cargo bikes or longtails with children are an increasingly common sight on my morning ride to work.
As you can see in this photo, the planter in the background is already filled in. The near one seems to be waiting for its plant. Plus the space opens up the street enough that the two people pictured seem comfortable hanging out and having a conversation. Try that between two parked cars.
It seems the arms race over bike parking between Chicago and New York City is not over yet.
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Brooklyn Spoke 
It was installed either Tuesday or Wednesday morning by DOT. It was kind of interesting watching them set it up and measuring carefully between the spaces. I’ve always seen the after installation, but not the installation and it was like finally seeing a baby pigeon-rarely seen but obviously occurring.
Any idea what kind of use this rack will see when class is in session? Seems like it will get the most traffic before and after school, and not much in between (unless people use it for nearby businesses).
Before the corral was installed it was common to see bikes locked to street signs or sidewalk racks nearby during the school year so I’m assuming some teachers and other school employees may bike to work.
You might also find that some parents bike over, drop their kids off, and leave the bike locked up while they continue on to work via subway. I know of some parents with cargo bikes who do just that at other schools since their bikes are too big and heavy to take over the bridges every day.
Nearby businesses also stand to benefit.
Another plus of the wide space between two of the racks is that it makes drop-off easier for parents who drive their kids to school. Just stop right in front, let your kids out, and watch them head straight to the front door. No giant SUV to block your view!
Good points! I hope someone does a study of this – I’d love to see how many teachers and parents ride more frequently as a result of this change.
I love this photo. I’m going to reach out to my synagogue in Park Slope and see if they will sign up for a bike corral outside its entrance. I’d love for every Brooklyn Spoke reader to ask the principal of their child’s school to apply for a bike corral!
Is that a bicycle cop writing a parking ticket in the background?
Oh the irony! 🙂