Used bicycles get new life for Bike Mountain Lake
The 20 specially-painted bicycles featuring orange cross bars – part of Bike Mountain Lake – are in place as of Friday morning, May 20, to get folks rolling ’round town on two wheels. The collection of public-use, public-share bicycles was organized by the Mountain Lake Area Foundation/Sweet Fields Bike Plan.
Bicycles are available in a bike share system – at no charge to the public; either city residents or visitors – at three locations around the city. ( Of course, riders are welcome to utilize their own wheels on the route.) They are housed in bicycle racks in three current locations – Island View Campground near Lawcon Park and the lake, Heritage Village and the southeast corner of Mountain Lake City Park. The bike racks are the work of Jeremy Hall of Hall Welding of Butterfield. Those using a bicycle from the bike share are asked to return it to one of the three bike share locations.
The plan also includes colorfully-painted bike route symbol stenciling on city streets, along with street signs, to guide bicyclists on the Mountain Lake Trail to downtown, as well as around the Mountain Lake Bike Route – and to other points of interest around town. The city bike map has been added to the Mountain Lake Trail map.
The Mountain Lake Area Foundation pledged a $2,400 grant as start-up money to cover the cost of the bicycles, bike racks, paint and all maintenance on the bicycles.
Albert Quiram of Windom has repaired and painted the bicycles that have been collected for the project with a bright orange highlight. Also recently coming on board. offering his mechanical services in order to keep the Bike Mountain Lake two-wheelers rolling, has been Curtis Nelson of Mountain Lake.
Bike sharing is an innovative new transportation system you can use without having to own your own bike (although you can). Public-uses bikes to be used will be able to be found at three bike racks scattered around the city – the locations yet to be determined. Bikes can be returned to any rack in the system, creating a network with many possible connection points and combinations of departures and arrivals.
