2024 Bike Rack Design Contest
Panel of Judges
Hear more about - and from - our judges for the 2024 Bike Rack Design Contest. We will add photos and information as each judge is announced. Follow us on social media and check back often.
Jim Hunt
Local Bike Safety Advocate + Expert
Morris Twp. Transportation Advisory Committee
Vision Zero NJ Alliance founding member
GO Morris Plains Mobility Advisory Committee & Traffic Committees
Campaign leader TEAM 4 THE NJ SAFE Passing Law, NJ Bike/Walk Coalition
Q: You've been eager to see more bike parking in town for a while now. Tell us why it's so important given your experience and expertise.
A: There’s a wonderful line from the movie Field of Dreams. I’ll paraphrase: “If you build it, they will come.” Town after town has found “If we invite cycling, we will ride.” Just like driving a car, where to park is a crucial consideration. "What a nice day," we might say."Wonder if I could pull out my bike and ride over to _____ (fill in the blank)... BUT what do I do with it when I get there?” The excitement around a unique bicycle rack design begins to answer that question.
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Q: What types of bike rack designs are you hoping to see?
A: To make bicycle parking attractive, it takes more than just a stunning design. It takes a design that:
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- makes it easy to park and lock bicycles (or scooters)—all tire sizes, frame sizes, all-pedal, or e-assist.
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can be located where the rack is in a visible, accessible, convenient locations.
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can be flexible enough to locate it in spaces that fit a few bikes—or a bunch.
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Q: What MP businesses do you like to visit when you bike around town?
A: I will describe the way I ride, but first an invitation: If you’re interested, contact me and I’ll help you map a route to the places you’d like to go. I cycle to the bank, for bagels, the Library, the post office, the parks. If you live on the Roberts Garden side of town, it’s easy to get to our main street—Speedwell. If you live on the Community Park side of town, you can find low-traffic route to the Kohl’s or Stop and Shop areas. The nice thing about our town and cycling is you can usually find a way to stay on slower speed streets and avoid the busiest. And, if you want to cross the “great divide” or Speedwell, you can use a traffic light or hop off and walk across using a crosswalk.
In the future, if we want to be a TO town and not a THROUGH town and more of us want to use our bikes or scooters and not the car…if we want our kids to use their “wheels” more safely...or give our senior and disabled neighbors more time and more places to cross a street.. it will take more than just the bike racks, But they’re a great beginning!
Denise Rawding
Morris Plains Board of Education
Q: In your opinion, what will these creative bike racks bring to our downtown?
A: Creative bike racks will bring a sense of fun to our downtown. They will also showcase the talents of our residents and build on our motto, "The Community of Caring" by instilling a sense of pride as our community designed them.
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Q: What types of bike rack designs are you hoping to see?
A: I would love to see bike rack designs that showcase a wide range of our diverse community. I also hope to see designs that show a love for Morris Plains and reflect the passions of the designers. The sky's the limit!
Robin Taylor
Taylor's Consignment Shop, Morris Plains
Q: What do you believe creative bike racks will bring to our downtown?
A: I think the racks will create a sense of family friendly community vibe.
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Q: We know you have an eye for design and for quality so we'd love to know: what types of designs are you hoping to see.
A: I’m looking for creative, compact and aesthetically, pleasing designs.
Nancy Verga
Morris Plains Borough Council President
Q: What types of bike rack designs do you hope to see?
A: I’d love to see bike racks in Morris Plains that are both functional and fun. The designs should offer easy access and multiple places to secure bikes and scooters of different shapes and sizes. I would also like to see bright, colorful, and playful designs that make people smile and remind us that biking is fun. The best designs will convey that our family-friendly community welcomes people using all forms of transportation.
Q: How do you believe these bike racks - and bike parking in general - benefit our downtown and community?
In speaking with residents, many say that one of the best things about Morris Plains is our walkable and bikeable community. If we focus on safety and security for bikes and pedestrians, more people will enjoy our public spaces and downtown shops without cars. Increased bicycle use would reduce traffic and emissions and improve the health of our residents. Also, an eye-catching bike rack design will highlight community art in our public spaces. I am happy to see us working together to create bicycle “destinations” in Morris Plains!
