New hospital racks kick off chain of bike infrastructure projects across Sacramento campus

On Saturday, April 17, bike-riding UC Davis Health personnel and patients at UC Davis Medical Center will experience a slight inconvenience for a major upgrade. The old “ribbon racks” will be replaced with sleeker “Varsity”-style racks that will boost capacity to 52 bikes, and a new configuration will create tidier, more open spaces in front of the hospital (during the project, cyclists can use other racks by the ED or by PS3, across from the old Tower entrance).

With expanded storage facilities, commuting by bike will become an even more appealing option for UC Davis Health employees.
With expanded storage facilities, commuting by bike will become an even more appealing option for UC Davis Health employees.

That improvement project is just the beginning of what might be called a true “revolution” for bike infrastructure across the Sacramento campus. In the coming weeks and months, several more projects will be completed, including:

  • Replacement of the old bike cage between the Police Station and the North Addition Office Building, as two new secure bike shelters will be installed, with a total capacity of 40 bikes.
  • The installation of a new bike shelter, which will hold 70 bikes, at the Causeway Connection shuttle stop (immediately to south of the Education Building).
  • An upgrade to bike storage at the Education Building itself – in addition to already-expanded capacity with the recent change to Varsity racks, a new secure shelter holding 55 bikes will be installed.
  • The addition of a 70-bicycle bike shelter at the under-construction PS4 parking structure, at the corner of V Street and 48th/49th St.

“These are tremendous upgrades for our employees and community members who ride bicycles,” said Sarah Janus, UC Davis Health Parking & Transportation Services’ sustainability officer. “These projects will also make more people comfortable with – and eager to try – bike commuting, knowing that they have a safe space to store their bikes.”

HOW TO USE BIKE STORAGE

For bike cages with key card access: Make sure your bike is licensed and registered with Parking and Transportation Services; $10 for new license and registration, $5 to renew (visit the PATS office at FSSB, Mon-Fri, during business hours; bicycles must be present). Then email stjanus@ucdavis.edu to add cage access to your ID badge.

For storage facilities with a physical key: If your bike is already licensed and registered, stop by the PATS office to pick up a key (with $10 refundable key deposit).

Funding also has been approved for a developing a bicycle/pedestrian “master plan” for the Sacramento campus – the first comprehensive effort of its kind, and an important step in realizing the Transportation Tomorrow vision.

“With all the planning going into new building projects, it is very important that we plan for our bike riders as well,” said Tom Emme, director of Facilities Design and Construction. “We want to encourage bike commuters to keep on riding in the future.”

And as construction continues and facilities are continuously reimagined, the plan also represents an opportunity to increase bike use while maintaining pedestrian safety.

“Providing attractive alternatives to car commuting, such as bicycling, will bring immense benefits to the environment, our immediate neighborhood, and the greater city and region,” Janus added.

Please contact Sarah Janus at stjanus@ucdavis.edu with any questions.

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