Businesses are being asked to help make Bettendorf more bicycle friendly. The Park Board is offering to share the cost of buying bike racks.
Donnie Miller is the Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator for Bettendorf, and says the cost sharing offer is a way to give people more choices in how they travel - bike, walk, bus, or car.
"We all want choices and Bettendorf is trying to give their residents options on safe travel to and from work, school, and play - anywhere that they can comfortably ride a bicycle and not have to deal with traffic."
The bike racks are made by the Crawford Company in Rock Island, and can cost up to 165 dollars each. The city will match the cost up to a maximum of 500 dollars.
Miller says the "inverted-u" design of the racks allows riders to lock up the frame and both wheels.
"You need to bring two locks. Lock the frame and rear wheel to one support on the U. And then the front wheel with a separate lock and cable. That way you can be assured that when you come back outside your bike is still going to be there."
Last year, Bettendorf was named a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists - he says it received the bronze level designation from the league, and to keep it and possibly move up to silver and gold levels, the city has to become a better and friendlier bicycle community.