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Park your bike for free at a Parking Authority garage

Want to park for free at a Philadelphia Parking Authority facility in Center City? Then ride a bike. The authority and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia announced yesterday that bike racks were being installed at three Parking Authority garages and a surface lot.

Want to park for free at a Philadelphia Parking Authority facility in Center City? Then ride a bike.

The authority and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia announced yesterday that bike racks were being installed at three Parking Authority garages and a surface lot.

The garages are at Second and Sansom Streets, Market Street East at 10th and Filbert Streets, and 10th and Ludlow Streets. The lot is at 15th and Arch Streets.

Each rack holds about a dozen bikes.

The authority's executive director, Vincent J. Fenerty Jr., said that while the agency made money from parking, it also wanted to support the Nutter administration's efforts to reduce auto congestion in Center City.

He said the authority would consider expanding the program, including on-street locations for bicycles and scooters.

Fenerty said he hoped private garage owners would follow the agency's example but acknowledged they had liability issues with which to contend.

"Safe and secure bike racks are very hard to find, and those that are on the streets are full," said Sarah Clark Stuart, advocacy coordinator for the bicycle coalition.

She praised the Parking Authority's initiative but said Philadelphia "needs thousands of more bicycle racks if it's going to be a sustainable, green city."