Photo courtesy People for Bikes

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There should be kiosk locations at light rail stops, but there should also be locations in Central Phoenix neighborhoods (perhaps near 7th Avenue and 7th Street) that are are densely residential, have restaurants and shops and are where people work or go to school. These are destinations for people that are getting a bike from the light rail stop. Now they need someplace to go.

These kiosks will encourage light rail use as workers or students take the light rail and then hop on a bike to get to the office or school. Add shopping and restaurants to the mix and people will stay for coffee or dinner or to pick up some items on the way home. If this neighborhood is also residential, then residents that might normally have a 20 - 30 minute walk to or from the light rail can take a bike instead for a quick trip. These communities with kiosks should also be fairly close together which would make it easy to bike between these neighborhoods and would encourage circulation of the bikes.

Not only would this boost ridership on the light rail, but it would also boost small business in these communities.

Some examples of placement: The Melrose District (7th Avenue and Camelback), 7th Avenue and Osborn and 7th Avenue and McDowell. They are evenly spaced, close to the light rail and have a mix of residential, restaurants, small shops and businesses, schools and a hospital. They are also close to the 3rd Avenue and 5th Avenue bike lanes. Add a protected bike lane to 7th Avenue and there would be a lot of happy people.

This same idea could work along 7th Street as well.