City seeks funding for new bike racks

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Fort St. John City Hall. (Tre Lopushinsky, Energeticcity.ca)

FORT ST. JOHN B.C. — Fort St. John council voted to support city staff’s grant application for new bike racks to be installed in the downtown core at their January 22nd meeting.

In partnership with the Fort St. John Arts Council, the city’s arts and culture department requested support to apply to the BC Alliance for Healthy Living Society’s Active Communities Grant Program for up to $50,000.

According to a report to council, there is an increased number of residents riding bikes in the community, and with the connectivity of trails increasing, it has become easier to bike to the downtown core.

More bike racks are reportedly needed for bikes to be safely secured in the downtown area, and they would help connect the community.

Councillor Trevor Bolin is looking to get businesses involved by reaching out to see if they want bike racks and are willing to get involved in the program.

“There are a lot of businesses I think would have bike racks, but they don’t know where to get them,” said Bolin.

“This could end up being a kind of a cool thing as an awareness point that we could really utilize,” Bolin continued.

According to the report, the arts and culture department would work with the planning and engineering department and parks department to find the best places to install bike racks at appropriate locations.

The department hopes to set up the new bike racks in the downtown core, recreation campus and other key locations.

Benefits expected to come from the project include providing and supporting robust, affordable, and accessible wellness and recreation opportunities for the whole community. Through the project, the city also hopes to foster community pride and a sense of belonging, as well as develop partnerships with agencies that provide public safety services.

If the funding is approved, the city will put the call out for designs and fabrications for unique bike racks to provide functional and decorative value.

The city expects an estimated 15-20 bike racks to be installed through the grant.