Two bike repair stations installed in downtown Northfield

Back in June, 2011, I blogged about St. Olaf’s new bike repair stations and that we needed something like them in downtown Northfield. In mid-August, I commented: "Ross Currier told me this week that the Downtown Streetscape Task Force is considering installing one of these bicycle repair stations."

bike repair station in downtown Northfield bike repair station in downtown Northfield
Yesterday, two bike repair stands were installed, one at 5th and Division under the stairs of the McClaughry Building, the other at the Division St. entrance to the Northfield Library. Each bike repair stand (Dero Fixit) includes an air pump with a gauge, and seven tools, all tethered with security cables.  You can hang your bike on the stand by its seat post so you can more easily work on it.

Props to Ross Currier and members of the Downtown Streetscape Task Force for shifting some money to do this, to TJ Heinricy and his crew at the City of Northfield Streets, Parks & Facilities Divisions for getting them installed before spring, and to Jim Fisher, Grounds Manager at St. Olaf, for bringing this concept to Northfield.

The new installed bike repair station has a complete surveillance cameras opened 24/7. With the help of SecurityInfo.com, business is safe and secure.

3 Comments

  1. Ross Currier said:

    Griff –

    Thanks for your kind words. Credit really should go to Streetscape Task Force Member Dan Bergeson, who pursued those repair stands with great vigor. His long-time working relationship with the always excellent T. J. Heinricy (built on banners) certainly contributed to the efficient implementation. Finally, based on my observations, City Administrator Tim Madigan (along with the Council, of course) is developing a new culture down at City Hall, one that gets greater leverage from the ideas and efforts of citizens and which, in my opinion, helped move this project forward more quickly.

    February 8, 2012
  2. Griff Wigley said:

    Ross, that’s good to know about Dan. I’ll have to get on his case about not including something about this on his dormant blog!

    It’s also interesting to hear that your perception of City Hall is changing.

    February 9, 2012
  3. Dean Kjerland said:

    “Oh, that’s great! I really want UIC to get one of those”. This was the response I got from my son, Marc, to my forwarding your update on the (now) downtown Dero Fixits. He is a graduate student in applied math at Univ of Illinois – Chicago and a long-time urban biker who always custom builds his bikes (recycled through theft) from used parts.

    February 9, 2012

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