Students from Tampa Bay Technical High School designed 10 bike racks
made from old bicycle parts for riders in downtown Tampa.
Partnering
with the
Tampa
Downtown
Partnership, students from the
school's
architecture, welding and auto body programs designed,
fabricated and painted the bike racks for the
Tampa Bay Cycle
campaign. Not only did they creatively conceptualize the design and
functionality, they were also responsible for finding the location to
install the racks downtown.
The Tampa Bay Cycle campaign, which
got the
wheels moving on this project, was founded by Karen Kress, director
of transportation and planning for the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
Kress.
a daily bike-on-bus commuter, and Julie Bond, a daily bicycle commuter,
member of the
New North Transportation
Alliance and co-chair for the Tampa Bay Cycle campaign, applied for a
grant back in 2007 through the Florida
Department of Transportation to launch the campaign. They won the grant
and have reapplied every year since to keep the campaign
going.
"We're just interested in making Tampa Bay a more
bicycle-friendly community," says Kress.
The bike racks were
designed for the urban environment and painted black to blend with the
rest of downtown Tampa's street decor.
The first rack was
installed on Earth Day, April 22, at the
St. Pete Times Forum at 401
Channelside Drive. Others are at popular places like the
Glazer Children's Museum,
Sweetwater Organic Farm,
Jaidee Yoga Studio,
and
Union
Station.
"We are always searching for creative ways
to enhance downtown's outdoor environment," says Kress. "This project
is a win for all involved - bike riders, public art lovers and students
gaining valuable experience."
Writer:
Nancy VaughnSource:
Karen Kress, Tampa Downtown Partnership
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