Cyclists in Sooke rejoice, there’s a new rack in town.
People walking, running, biking or maybe even driving by Cedar Grove Shopping Centre may have noticed the bright wooden structure right in front of Barb’s Barber Shop.
“About two weeks ago I found out Maywell Wickheim (owner of Sooke Marine Industries) was making this wooden rack,” said Randy Welters, the manager at Stone Pipe Grill which is right around the corner.
Welters, who has also been involved with the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce and the Sooke Region Tourism Association for many years, said he had talked in length with Laura Byrne from the district about the necessity for bike racks, and particularly near his establishment.
“In our restaurant we get lots of cyclists and they’d like to a) lock their bikes or b) watch through a window. Sometimes that’s not possible.”
The original plan was to purchase a conventional unit from Urban Racks in Surrey, but he said Wickheim volunteered to take on the project. Sooke Marine Industries has been active with contributing to the district’s Communities in Bloom initiative, and are also responsible for the new wooden bus stop bench on Otter Point Road.
“It’s an advantage for tourists and locals to be able to lock them up in the (downtown) core.”
Welters said they are thinking of modifying the massive bike rack, which also features a “trough” on top for temporarily holding biking gear while people lock up or remove their vehicles, by cutting it in half and placing the other half somewhere else in town.
There have been a lot of comments about the new addition to the plaza.
“Local people look at it and appreciate logging and the wood products that are part of Sooke’s heritage,” he said. “Visitors think it’s kinda cool.”