Commercial Bike Licenses To Remain Unchanged
By Karen Gould

The brakes have been applied to the number of commercial bicycle licenses issued for the 2006 tourist season with Mackinac Island City Council unanimously agreeing that last year's limit of 1,315 bikes is enough. Council's decision was made 30 minutes after a Commercial Bike Redetermination Hearing took place Wednesday, April 26.

Mayor Margaret Doud told Council their decision should be based on three considerations, including whether there are enough licensees to meet the needs of the public, local traffic conditions, and the health, safety and welfare of the public.

At the hearing, five Island businesses asked the city for 160 new licenses.

Last year, Council gave 15 new rental licenses to James Fisher of Mackinac Wheels, east of the marina. This year he asked Council for 10 to 15 more bike licenses for his business.

"I understand the availability of these licenses are limited, any number would be grateful," he wrote.

"The demand for more rental bikes at the end of the marina is great due to the number of hotels and bed and breakfasts in this area. We were unable to satisfy the demand on many occasions during the 2005 season," his letter stated.

Debra Orr of Orr Kids Bikes on Main Street told Council, "I've applied every year and my mother applied every year."

In a letter, she requested 75 additional bicycle license "to cover the very few busy days we have in the middle of July each summer, which would enable me to take the different style of bicycles and accommodate the visitors' choices."

She noted the policy Council adopted several years ago giving rental companies the flexibility to transfer licenses among different bikes had helped. The plan allows renters to stock smaller bicycles for school children in the spring and more large bicycles for adults during the summer by using a license for more than one bike.

"I have large school groups in the spring so I need more of the smaller or 20-inch bicycles. In the middle of the season, I have more adults who ride and need the 26-inch bike frames," she wrote.

Ira Green who owns the Mackinac Island Bike Shop on Hoban Street asked for 25 additional bike licenses.

"Since the relocation of the Mackinac Island Bicycle shop to Hoban Street last year, we have found that we are unable to satisfy the number of customers staying in our immediate area requesting bike rentals," he wrote.

Ryba's Bike Rentals requested 25 new commercials licenses, noting they would be used at their rental lot in front of the Island House.

"The lot is outside of town so 25 more bikes would cause no congestion on Main Street and we could better serve the hotel's guests," wrote Pat Grodecki, manager of Ryba's Bike Rentals.

Ben Robinson, general manager, and Michael Bacon, one of the owners of The Inn at Stonecliffe, requested 25 more licenses. They wrote, "Currently we have 25 licenses, which is not an adequate amount for the demand that our business has for bicycle transportation."

During the meeting, Mr. Robinson addressed council to explain that Stonecliffe's location on the west side of the Island makes it difficult for guests to walk downtown to rent bicycles. The additional bikes would provide an added value to guests' stay, offering more mobility for them to ride into town, which in turn would be an additional benefit to the community, he explained.