Bike Racks to Bring Functional Street Art to Half Moon Bay

The days of having to prop up your bike against a store window or chain your bike to the nearest signpost, disability railing or tree in Half Moon Bay are coming to an end.

Bike racks — aesthetically pleasing and functional in design— will soon grace the streets of downtown.

A $5,000 gift from Jude and Julia Damasco, Half Moon Bay residents and owners of local firm Damasco and Associates, was given to the city to purchase the racks as a way to encourage bicycle use by residents and tourists alike.

Additional money to pay for the racks was raised through matching grants from the Peninsula Congestion Relief Alliance, the organization responsible for "" program. The Alliance also runs an employee shuttle programs and other related initiatives in San Mateo County.

With the donation from the Damascos, nine bike racks were recently ordered by the city from DERO Bike Rack, a Minneapolis-based company that makes functional, artistic bicycle parking racks for cities and businesses all over the world.

The racks will hit the streets by summer’s end, according to city engineer Mo Sharma.

“We’re looking at maybe eight weeks of fabrication and delivery time,” said Sharma. “After that, another week or so for city staff to install the racks in locations primarily along the sidewalks of Main Street and in the downtown area.”

The idea to introduce the racks originated from a conversation between Half Moon Bay City Councilmember Marina Fraser and Jude Damasco on how local workers could ride their bicycles to lunch and not have to worry about the bike going missing, according to Fraser.

“The hope is that more people will ride their bikes and use the racks in the downtown area,” Sharma said.

Indeed, the new bicycle racks will likely provide a safe, attractive and convenient method to secure one's bike downtown.

"If there were more bike racks, perhaps people would decide to take a ride on their bike instead of the car," said Fraser. "They could hop on their bike and ride to town to grab a coffee." This would also increase parking on Main Street, save gas, and allow workers to squeeze in some midday exercise, she said.

Shaped like a bike and made of gauge tube with a thermoplastic coating, the racks can be considered functional pieces of street art.

Each rack can accommodate up to four bikes. The bicycles must be locked up parallel to another on the rack in order to clear the right of way to passing pedestrians or wheelchair users. The rack also allows for the wheels and frame of each bike to be secured using a U-style bike lock.

The remaining three bike racks will be whimsical in design: one is shaped like a fish, the second in the form of a coffee mug and the third, a bunch of grapes.

The custom designed bike racks may also inspire local businesses to sponsor more bike racks in the future using Dero’s logo version of the bike rack, according to Sharma.

“The logo bike racks are a cost-effective way  for businesses to get their name out on the street,” said Sharma. “They are functional signs that you can place right in front of your business or office and send a message that you support bike transportation.”

Sharma said he wanted to purchase racks that were functional and secure “because if bicyclists don't like or trust the rack, they won't use it,” he said.

Dero says that their custom bike racks are designed to function well with the design of the bike so they won’t be misused. The company emphasizes that their custom bicycle racks are designed to be user-friendly, easily recognizable, and accessible so bikes can be parked neatly and look attractive even when they are full of bikes.

“Dero was referred to me, and I looked at a few other companies as well, but these seemed to be the most durable and attractive bike racks out there,” said Sharma, who said he selected the product keeping in mind the need for racks which would  withstand the elements of a city on the coast.

Determining the location of each bike rack was also under Sharma's responsibilities.

“I wanted to make sure that each bike rack would not obstruct the sidewalks for pedestrians and people with disabilities," Sharma said. "I also had to also make sure that these bike racks were dispersed evenly throughout the potentially heavy use area, not just in one location.”

owner Chris Nishkian, who is currently expanding his rental bike inventory at his business located in downtown Half Moon Bay, is excited for the change.

“[I] definitely think this will be great because with more people riding their bikes these days, sidewalks are cluttered with bikes leaning on poles," said Nishkian. "Bike racks will solve this problem."

Making the entire community more bike and pedestrian friendly is also something that the City of Half Moon Bay is invested in, according to Fraser.

"The work that has been done in the past few years to increase and improve the network of trails along the coast and have them connect so you can traverse across is ongoing," said Fraser.

"Making Half Moon Bay bike and pedestrian friendly for all of us has multiple benefits," she said. "We have a beautiful community and great views from the seat of a bike. Plus, the health benefits of even casual cycling and just riding a bike makes you feel like a kid again."