Metro Looks for Artists to Design Bike Racks

Starting next year, new bike racks will be installed in and around downtown Nashville, but they won’t look like any this city has seen before.

The Metro Arts Commission is asking local artists to submit their design for sculptures that will double as bike racks. They should be sturdy and practical works of art that tie into their location in some way.

The idea isn’t new. Artistic bike racks have been erected in many cities, ranging from New York City and Toronto to Louisville and Ann Arbor. Arts Commission spokesman Phil Martin says the track record in those places has been good.

“The biggest criticism of these types of programs that are out there is they’re so beautiful people are afraid to chain their bikes to them, for fear they’ll damage the piece of art. That’s a good problem to have.”

The city has chosen five specific places where racks will be installed by Spring and more may be added in the future.

They’ll be paid for by the Percent for Art fund. Anytime the city takes out a bond to pay for a construction project, one percent of the amount is earmarked for public art.