Six new bike racks have been added to Traverse City’s Warehouse district in an effort to provide facilities that encourage cycling. The bike racks have been added as part of Smart Commute Week with partnership from the Cherry Capital Cycling Club, City of Traverse City, Downtown Development Authority and TART Trails.

A donation from the Cherry Capital Cycling Club to TART’s Smart Commute Week funded the purchase of the racks. The City of Traverse City provided the installation and the Downtown Development Authority paid for ten additional bike racks will be placed downtown yet this fall.

The Smart Commute Week committee believes that the addition of more bike racks around town will encourage people to consider sustainable transportation options, which is the entire idea behind Smart Commute Week. The committee hopes the bike rack enhancement will yield infrastructure improvements that will enable cyclists to feel that they are part of the transportation solution.

“As TART moves ahead and continues to advocate for bicycles and pedestrians in the Traverse area, we need the support from many individuals and governmental entities to allow for future infrastructure improvements- both big and small,” said Missy Luyk, Smart Commute Week coordinator. “Of course, a bike rack is a relatively small infrastructure enhancement, but it requires coordination with multiple agencies and user groups. TART needs that same kind of support on a larger scale in order to get future area trail building projects on the ground,” continues Luyk.