Bike racks to get a spot on Lincoln buses

The Star Tran public transit company will be answering its passangers requests with an installment that will change the way riders utilize the bus.
Star Tran will add bicycle racks on the new fleet of 30-foot long buses that will come out in the spring of 2011.
"The general public has been asking for years, and now with shorter buses, we can make it happen," said Brian Praeuner, transit planner at Star Tran.
The two bike slotted racks will be placed on the front of each new bus. The shorter buses will continue to be the low floor style buses using biodiesel. Also, the fleet will gain three 25-foot buses for less utilized routes. According to Praeuner, "any big city uses bike racks on buses, including Omaha, and they have been generally welcomed by the public."
"The reason why we're doing it now is because of the shorter buses," he said. "The 2002 multi-million dollar garage could not hold the buses we have now with bike racks."
Working in accordance with the Great Plains Trails Network and the Pedestrian Bicycle Advocacy Committee as well as different bike shops around Lincoln, Star Tran is spreading the word about educating people on how to use the bike racks. Anyone seeking information regarding the bike rack loading process and rules can contact any of the groups previously mentioned including Star Tran.
Drew Pillard, a senior construction management major at UNL, said the addition of new bike racks "could help some students that wanted to ride their bike, but before it was too far. Now, with bike racks, it would make it more accessible."
For Pillard, however, it could go either way.
"For the bus rider that isn't riding a bike its gonna make it a longer ride for them," he said.
Having only two slots in a rack per bus could cause problems for multiple riders wanting to utilize the bike rack system. The rider would have to wait for the next bus, because the racks are on a first-come, first-serve basis, Praeuner said. Also, the racks will not fit all bikes, only normal-sized mountain and street bikes. No tandems, recumbent, mopeds or tricycles. The racks will not be accessible during the winter months.
"If you need a secure and well-lit place to park your bike, Center Park garage at 12th and N street has a bike corral," said Praeuner.
"We are working on getting more of the bike corrals in more accessible places for people, we have the funds to do that. The bike racks and new buses were paid for by federal stimulus money."
westonpoor@
dailynebraskan.com