Sue Klarner, owner of Kocomo’s Coffee House, would like to give residents a reason to ride their bikes downtown.
Klarner is proposing that new bike racks be placed outside her café and hopes that will encourage more people to step away from their cars and enjoy the fresh air.
“It will be a secure place for them to put their bikes so they can do their shopping or laundry or whatever,” she said.
The fifth parking spot from Central Avenue on the west side was chosen as a proposed spot for its viewpoint from the highway, as well as an encouragement to come into town.
She noticed that bikes were parked against tress or placed on the sidewalks. “It becomes dangerous to pedestrians and elderly people so I picked this spot for the bike racks.”
During the winter the bike racks would be removed due to snow removal, then replaced once spring arrives again. However, her proposal for bike racks is still uncertain.
To convince residents to use the bike racks, Klarner proposes incentives.
“Maybe I’ll offer an incentive for the first 15 who park there and use it, they will get free coffee or something,” she laughed. “Just to get people talking and used to it.”
Another proposal Klarner is thinking about is to have the city construct an actual bike and skateboard lane on the west side of 2nd Street.
Klarner added, “It would be great for it to possibly connect it with the lovely paths they are building in the city.”