For Brian Drayton, bike parking is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity, a mission, a movement in the making. Richmond Spokes, the organization he founded in early 2009, provides valet bicycle parking at about 25 small- to medium-size events throughout the Bay Area each year. But more impressive than that is his sheer ambition.
For Brian Drayton, bike parking is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity, a mission, a movement in the making. Richmond Spokes, the organization he founded in early 2009, provides valet bicycle parking at about 25 small- to medium-size events throughout the Bay Area each year. But more impressive than that is his sheer ambition.
“I want people to understand we can use bikes for everything, everyday,” Drayton said. “There should be as many bike-parking facilities as there are gas stations in the world.”
In the East Bay, at least, bike parking is booming. BART is increasing capacity at its stations, cities are investing more in public racks, businesses are bringing bikes indoors or designing their own outdoor parking, and bike-advocacy groups are making valet services at large events the new norm. Parking may be one of the least sexy elements of bicycle infrastructure, but it’s beginning to garner serious attention.
Drayton is already looking to expand his model into other cities such as Los Angeles and Atlanta, allowing independent event producers to rent out racks and staff their own valets. No event should be without bike parking, he believes, whether it’s a block party, a music festival, or an art show. In Oakland, for example, Richmond Spokes has provided free valet parking for The Fox Theater, Art Murmur, and Oaksterdam University.
The East Bay Bicycle Coalition provides a similar service throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties, though it tends to focus on larger events. Executive Director Renee Rivera said the organization works with contractors and volunteers to staff about thirty events a year, parking anywhere from dozens to more than a thousand bikes at a time. Earlier this year, the coalition hired its first dedicated bike-parking program coordinator.