A Very Special Announcement About Art Bike Racks Coming to L Street NW

Sometimes I get press releases because, um, I'm not totally sure, but I consider it my sacred obligation to pass along this information and sometimes with aplomb. So, please see this information below and please note that my reposting of this press release is dedicated to all of you (and one of you in particular) who love (and by love, I mean loathe more than anything else in the world) art bike racks.

ARTIST COMMISSIONED BIKE RACK ARRIVES IN GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Washington D.C.’s Central Business District Promotes Green Transit

(Washington, DC) – The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) will install the latest in a series of artist commissioned bike racks this week. The bike rack is the sixth completed as a part of the BID’s Public Art campaign.  Washington, D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), who serves as the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, will speak at the unveiling of the bike rack.  Councilmember Cheh will also park the inaugural bike on the newly sculpted bike rack. The ceremony is open to the public and will take place outside of 2055 L Street NW on Wednesday, November 6^th at 10:30 AM.

The newest artistic bike rack will be installed along the L Street cycle track, which is the only west-to-east-protected bike lane in the downtown D.C. area.  Since 2000, the Golden Triangle BID has densely packed the 43-block neighborhood with more than 400 bike racks, providing parking for more than 800 bicycles in the area.

The “natural beauty of this bustling neighborhood, and the landscaping that makes this area so warm and inviting,” inspired the design, stated the artist Kaylyn Bancroft.  The bike rack looks like a willow tree and is a series of overlapping arches topped with sculpted birds and leaves.  Constructed of steel tubing and painted planar elements the rack measures twelve feet long by four feet tall. Bancroft also designed the bike rack “Clip Art” which was installed in the BID in 2010.  

After the newest bike rack design was revealed, name ideas for the installment were submitted through the BID’s Facebook page.  The Golden Triangle BID staff selected the top three names from the entries, and, opened it up to the public for online voting between October 23^rd and October 29^th.  The winning moniker will be announced at the bike rack unveiling.  The top three selections were: “Bike Nest,” “Bi(rd) Cycle,” and “Pedal Perch.” Over 153 people voted for the winning name.

“We look forward to celebrating green transit and the successful completion of another unique bike rack in the neighborhood,” said Leona Agouridis, executive director of the Golden Triangle BID. 

The unveiling event will be officiated by the President of the Board of the Golden Triangle BID, Greg Meyer with Brookfield Properties.  Speakers will include Washington D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh and Doug Olson, Executive Vice President of Monument Realty who redeveloped the property adjacent to the new bike rack, 2055 L Street NW.  Dawn Cacciotti, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at the National Restaurant Association will also speak.  The National Restaurant Association, an owner occupant at 2055 L Street, has a wellness program in place that encourages employees to bike to work.

About Golden Triangle BID

The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District is a non-profit organization that works to enhance DC’s Central Business District from the White House to Dupont Circle and 16th Street NW to New Hampshire Avenue NW. The BID’s primary focus is to provide a clean, safe and friendly environment within its 43 blocks of public space for area workers and visitors. The BID has a 23-member Board of Directors representing owners and tenants in the central business district.