Bike use in Tacoma is on the rise - and with more bikers, comes a need for more places to park and secure bikes. The City of Tacoma is on it.

After participating in the statewide bike/pedestrian counts in October at 15 locations around Tacoma, the City's Bike Rack Program strives to get more racks in more locations as demand increases.

"The old saying is that parking drives every driving decision and the same is true for bicycling," says Diane Wiatr, Mobility coordinator for the City of Tacoma. "If you can't lock your bike up at your destination, it really inhibits the journey."

She cites numbers. The average parking space for a car costs between $25,000 and $35,000 to install and maintain, while a bike rack costs just $200. Additionally, biking is better for the environment and reduces traffic congestion - especially in areas like Sixth Avenue or Proctor where drivers may have to circle the block a few times for a space to open up. One car space provides room for 12 bikes.

Bike racks will be installed all around Tacoma. An especially noteworthy perk of this program is that any business in Tacoma can ask to have a bike rack installed in the public right-of-way for free.

"At least for now, the city has a small amount of dedicated funds for racks as well as a federal grant that is helping expand the program," says Wiatr.

Since 2010, the City of Tacoma has installed 96 bike racks and will install several dozen more soon. New racks will be along the Thea Foss Waterway, near MLK-area businesses such as 2nd Cycle and Fulcrum Gallery, and more. Last year, the city also partnered with Downtown On The Go and installed the first public bike cage in Park Plaza North. Parking here costs a small fee, but provides gated and locked bike storage.

"We started with one bike stable out front when we opened. It was continually packed with four or more bikes," says Chris Miller, owner of The Red Hot on Sixth Avenue - one of the locations of the new bike racks. "The city came and put in two more bike stables. These stables are continually full as well. When the city asked if we wanted to take part in the pilot program for on-street bike corrals, it was a no-brainer. It's a great neighborhood for cycling, even the casual rider, as it's flat for miles around us."

The Red Hot will celebrate its bike corral Thursday, May 31 when it hosts "Recycle The Bike Night: Clips of Faith," a collection of home spun indie bike films coupled with New Belgium brews.

"The City wants to support bicycle access with racks wherever bicyclists want to go," adds Wiatr.

LINK: May is Bike Month

LINK: Bike To Work week coming