Mayor Ralph Becker and city bicycle & pedestrian coordinator Becka Roolf, unveiled Salt Lake City’s first bike corral this afternoon under snowy skies. ---A bike rack taking up one motor vehicle parking spot in front of Squatter's, the bike corral is the the first of several to be installed this month.

Squatter’s, whom Becker says is “an example of a business stepping forward, sustainably,” hosted the pilot bike corral program last year. The temporary bike structure will now be installed on site from April to November. Bike corrals cost nothing to the businesses involved and will be installed per request by inquiring with the Department of Transportation. Each location will be assessed by demand, although, the first option is to install permanent bike racks on the sidewalk, Roolf says.

Bike corrals are the first of several initiatives the city hopes to launch this year to enhance biking in the community. “The city has the goal to make it easy, accessible and safe to get around on bike. It is an important part of the transportation system,” Becker says. Other initiatives include modifying roads to include more bike lanes, bicycle boulevards—roads closed to thru traffic—and other undisclosed projects, Roolf says.