Phoenix’s Street Transportation Department and Office of Arts and Culture is partnering with Downtown Phoenix Inc. and Artlink for a design competition.

The city is seeking a design for eye-catching bike racks.

Called Pedal to the Metal: Phoenix Bike Rack Project, the competition also has cash prizes for the winners. There is a $4,000 reward for two winners who will also act as project managers during the bicycle rack development. Up to four finalists will each receive $250 for their proposals. 

As more people move into downtown Phoenix, the project and design competition seeks to accommodate the growing number of cyclists within the city. Not only is the goal to make the city more user-friendly when it comes to transportation, but the city also hopes to improve the look and feel of major streets.

The deadline to submit proposals is Monday, December 18, 2017. 

Any artist or designer living and working in Maricopa County is eligible for the competition. Various types of artwork may be submitted. These include oil, watercolor, acrylic, graphite, charcoal, pastels, photography, ceramics, printmaking, textile, and mixed media. With an estimated project completion date of Monday, March 12, 2018, the city is hoping to incorporate the new bike racks within the coming months.

There is an informational workshop about the project on December 6th. The workshop will take place at Downtown Phoenix Inc.’s offices at 1 E. Washington Street. As the city continues to grow, the project is a positive initiative in the effort to make the Phoenix more functional and accessible to its residents.

Finalists will also be able to present their concepts and designs prior to the project’s completion. Some requirements for the bike racks are that they must have at least two points of contact and should be no taller than 35”, wider than 36”, or narrower than 16’. Further details about the design competition are specified on Artlink’s submission manager page.

If you have an idea for an eye-catching bike rack and qualify for submissions, take your shot at the $4,000 prize.