Many have been complaining for some time now about the lack of adequate parking spaces in the city. And it seems for some that the number of available spaces continues to dwindle as time marches on.

It used to be only the motor vehicle operators who raised their voices in dismay, but lately even bicycle riders have noticed that it’s getting increasingly harder to find a place to lock up while stopping in the city for some shopping, café haunting, or just hanging around.

Who is responsible for installing bike racks for use by cyclists? Who should be responsible?

The city has made great strides in providing dedicated bike lanes along many of our major thoroughfares. But what about consideration for those times when the cyclist needs to stop their forward progress and do whatever they have to do while dismounted?

Some feel that as a courtesy to potential customers, the owner-operators of local businesses should install bike racks outside their storefronts. Obviously, not every business owner would go along with that. And what about the provision of lock-up spaces away from commercial centers? The city is certainly not made up solely of brick-and-mortar retailers. The parks, residential areas, and other open spaces might need a few bike racks as well.

So, should the city step in and provide a few of the necessities for cyclists? They’ve gone to great lengths to make this city “bikeable.” Shouldn’t it be suitably lockable as well? Cyclists and motorists alike now share a surprisingly unlikely common cause: where to park it.