Five new bicycle racks designed by local artist Eugene Sargent that will soon be installed along Block Avenue in Fayetteville.
Staff photo
New bicycle racks are set to be installed on Block Avenue, and from the looks of it, they’ll be right at home alongside one of Fayetteville’s most colorful streets.
The new racks were designed by local artist Eugene Sargent, and paid for by the Block Street Business Association from merchandise sales generated during the 2012 Block Street Block Party.
“We’ve wanted bike racks on Block for a long time,” said Hannah Withers, president of the association. “When we found out the city was planning to install some standard racks, we decided that we wanted to do something a little bit different, something more unique that fits our street a little bit better.”
There are five racks, colorfully painted, and sculpted in various shapes including a guitar, a coffee cup and a pair of scissors. The shapes, Withers said, are intended to reflect the diverse types of businesses that line the avenue that locals refer to simply as “Block Street.”
“We want to promote the street, but we also want to re-invest in the community with things like this that really improve the quality of life in the neighborhood,” Withers said.
“What we ended up with are not just bike racks, but pieces of public art that are also functional, and that go along with the walkability, bikeability, and connectivity that we’re trying to build on Block Street,” she said.
Staff photo
Asking Sargent to design and build the racks was a no-brainer, Withers said.
“Eugene does amazing work, and he’s already contributed so much to this city with his beautiful work,” she said. “To have a piece of him, and his work here on our street is just such an honor.”
Withers said the racks were approved through the Fayetteville Arts Council and the city’s planning staff. A crew with the city’s transportation department is set to install the racks later this week.
Those are great! Can’t wait to see them in action.
like!
These racks are nearly as wonderful as the two that made them possible. Thank you Hannah and Eugene for keeping Fayetteville funky!
Outstanding!
Fantastic bike racks! Maybe the city can use the money they saved to install trash cans.
Trash cans could also be artistic and fun. Whimsical creatures with soulful eyes and large trash-gobbling mouths come to mind . . . Why not?!!
Neato! Fayetteville needs more public art.
I love Block Street. (Avenue?)
I dunno, I don’t think bike racks should be promoting back alley abortions.
I’m a bicyclist, so I think its great that extra thought was put into the bike racks. Also, this great from an art/sculpture perspective. However, in my opinion, I don’t think these are going to enhance the aesthetics of Block St.. I think they’re going to look garish and very out-of-keeping with the overall appearance of the street, and I think that for the amount of space they will take up the payoff won’t be there in terms of how many bikes you can lock up at each one. This is not an insult to the artist. I just think there may have been some shortsighted decisions made on this one.
Bah humbug. I think they look great. Way better than those mall style bike loops that were probably going in.
You’ll get over it.
At least they are not a bunch of razorbacks.
Don’t use these privately funded racks if they don’t meet your high standards.
Nice artwork but does look out of place. Kinda like the artwork that was on 540. Simple racks would have been just fine.
Its really neat how you’ve decided they look out of place before they’ve been installed.
As usual, Fayetteville has nice racks.
These are cool. Good job, Block.
I have always loved Block street.
Over the last few years the Block st Block Party and all the love that Hannah and the BSBA have poured into this wonderful little street have made me fall even harder. Viva Block St!
Viva Hannah!
Also: the scissors are my favorite.
THIS is public/private partnership at its best. Everyone comes out ahead. Fun, Funky, Functional. (Look out, I may have to copyright that one!)
Kudos to all on this one!
jmo
They do kinda look like something you would find on a preschool playground but I like ‘em!
Those “mall style bike loops” are designed that way for a reason. If you don’t want bicycles locked up to trashcans, trees, private fences, balcony poles, blocking sidewalks, etc. then you have to maximize how many bicycles you can put into a designated bike parking area . I will be very interested to see what happens during the Farmer’s Market or other Block St./Town Square events. These new racks serve the public more as artwork than a bike parking solution. As artwork, there will always be people who like or dislike it, which is natural. As a solution to the increasing need for designated bike parking, I think this failed. Not a miserable fail, but a fail nonetheless.
1. It’s called a compromise
2. More bike racks can be installed. We haven’t reached our limit.
3. Have you ever been to the farmer’s market or other events? I have. I’ve never witnessed a bicycle-overflow-induced calamity.
@ vandelay- I have been to the Farmer’s Market and other events on Block St. via bicycle and I can say that while there was no “bicycle-overflow-induced calamity” there were some issues, especially at the Block St. Block Party which funded this project. Conscientious riders are (generally speaking) sensitive to the fact that store owners, people pushing baby strollers, and the handicapped do not appreciate bicycles blocking walkways to any degree. Bicyclists do not like their bikes being angrily shoved over out of walkways. Drivetrains and derailleurs are easily damaged that way. I appreciate and use functional bike racks whenever possible. They are usually designed to help protect bikes from damage. I hope that it won’t take a “bicycle-overflow-induced calamity” for you or the city to consider that installing more functional bike racks is also good idea.
I appreciate the response. We all agree on the utility and need for bike racks. That’s why the BSBA purchased and installed them. There are now new spots for at least ten bikes to be locked up on this section of Block Ave at any given time. I don’t think anyone claimed that this will accommodate all bicycle parking needs in perpetuity. More racks can be installed. Get on it! If these racks aren’t good enough for some people, they are free to not use them. As for Block Street Block Party, I think you’d have a hard time justifying anyone being allowed to ride their vehicle in the street, much less lock it up on a crowded sidewalk. Bikes shouldn’t even be allowed!
There are more racks being installed. I just heard the city bought 60 more staple racks. block street is getting more. There’s bike rack art all over the world! none have them have ended in calamity! Holy cow! The sky is falling! and bike parking isn’t the only issue during Block Party. That is such an extreme situation. They cram 12,000 people in four blocks. Sorry you couldn’t find room for your bike. There was also no room for Parking, strollers, more vendors. I’m glad they took the money and tried to put it back into their street. I’m shocked so many people are up in arms. Or maybe only a few are. But they sure are being loud about it. This is just not that big of a deal.
In addition, should it take a wheelchair-overflow-induced calamity for anyone to see that proper sidewalk-to-crosswalk grade is important to some people…maybe not all, but some. Marginalizing any subset of your community isn’t a positive contribution. Bicyclists already have enough to contend with just by simply riding alongside uninformed or hostile motorists.
Marginalizing??? These business owners bought you people brand new bike racks! Jeez!
@BW-I understand that it’s difficult to convey tone via written word sometimes. None of my messages were written with any animosity or hysteria, but with much interest and concern regarding the topic. I assumed that’s what the comment section was trying to foster here. Am I mistaken or unwelcome to voice my opinion or offer a different perspective?
Yeah. Text is funny that way. Of course your opinions are welcome here. Not that I agree with you on this one.The word “calamity” infers some kind of disaster. Which, when I went at looked at them all today, they all look pretty out of the way to me. I’m willing to bet money there will be no “wheelchair calamities”.
I introduced the word calamity. Anyhow, I think a “wheelchair calamity” would be a great event for next years block party. I’m gonna pass that along.
I was going to suggest it as a name for a band.
@vandelay- My marginalizing reference was in response to your gaslighting-style “calamity” comment. Our group rode to the block party, not through the crowd. Honest question, not a cornering attack…do you ride bicycles much around town yourself?
I do ride bikes around town, but not as often as id like. Nice try for an ad hominem, though.
The gas lighting started with your original comment. You expressed your disapproval and stated “I will be very interested to see what happens…”. The implication is that something bad will happen. (That one is called “begging the question”.). I ran with it.
Also, when we begin using the term “you people” that is a strong indicator of a “you vs them” perspective. Ouch.
I’m glad you caught that! It was in direct response to the term “marginalization.”
@ vandelay-My question about whether you rode bikes or not wasn’t an attempt at a personal attack. I was hoping that if you did, you could ride with our group or some of us with yours, and we could continue discussing the pros and cons of this project while we are together using/enjoying (or not) the sculptures/bike racks. By taking a discussion “into the field” so to speak, we usually gain greater perspective about how to improve future projects because we’ve put it into real world application.
I see you’ve picked up on the fact that I really want to hang out with more people who will complain about these bike racks. I have over 30 years of experience in riding and locking up bikes, and 20 years of experience hanging out on block ave. I’m good, thanks!
It’s a genuine invitation, and an open one if you ever change your mind.
I think everybody just needs a cream puff.
I enjoyed a fantastic Cream Puff (after a buttered everything bagel) this morning at Little Bread. My bicycle was parked to the coffee cup rack outside. As Hannah knows, I’m a very particular bicycle parking enthusiast. When I drafted the original bicycle parking ordinance for Fayetteville years ago, I specifically specified “inverted-U” or “staple” racks as I was so fearful of poor bicycle parking rack designs. (The ordinance has since been amended to include greater flexibility, and I’m confidant City staff will manage this flexibility wisely, now).
As far as I can tell, the new artful bicycle parking racks accommodate 2 bicycles in the exact same footprint and with the exact same locking convenience as the inverted-U rack. My bicycle was supported at two points above it’s center of gravity and was not inclined to roll or tilt into the circulation space. I was able to conveniently lock both my wheel and my frame. My bicycle and Dan’s bicycle were able to share the rack easily, without entanglement.
I thank Hannah and Eugene and all the City staff who worked to on this fun, funky and functional project. (And hurray for bagels and cream puffs, too.)
Would like to note that these bike racks seem to be an homage to David Byrne and other artists. Check out similar racks in NYC:
http://www.davidbyrne.com/art/bike_racks/about/images/cityroom_bikeracks.jpg
Plus… that dude wrote ‘Burning Down The hOuse”…