Urban Bicycle Wash Stations

Committee: Streetsmarts

Cost: $20,000

Location: 2 locations, to be determined

Short description: Bicycle owners need to clean and care for their bikes, ideally monthly. But for apartment dwellers, this is really hard! These centrally located bicycle wash stations would allow bicycle owners to wash off dirt, grime, and salt from their bikes.

Long description:
Bicycle owners need to clean and care for their bikes, ideally monthly. But for apartment dwellers, this is really hard! It's tough to get access to a hose, and tough to legally and safely store solvents for cleaning chains and deal with their disposal. Some suggest washing bikes in a bathtub, but that's inconvenient, cumbersome, and sometimes ineffective.

There are currently not any bike wash stations in Cambridge. This project will pilot two bike wash stations in areas of Cambridge with high residential density, ideally close to one of the bike repair stations. The bike wash station will include a hose for washing the bike, a bike stand, and appropriate drainage. They will be installed near a fire station or other public building where City staff can keep an eye on them.

Bike cleanliness can be considered a safety issue. Allowing dirt, grime, and salt to accumulate on a bike can impair the functioning of brakes and other mechanics of the bike. This project will help the many apartment dwellers in Cambridge who use their bikes as a primary means of transportation to work, school, and around the neighborhood.

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