Project CANVAS
A Main Street Fairmont Initiative
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Downtown Historic District Sculpted Bike Racks
Application Deadline: March 16th, 2015
OVERVIEW
Main Street Fairmont is seeking individual artists and/or artist teams to design 6 pieces of
functional art in Downtown Fairmont to enhance the aesthetic environment and to serve as
bicycle racks. This call for artists is for the design and construction of bicycle racks on sidewalks
within six predetermined locations around downtown. Artists will be acknowledged with a plaque
at the base of each bike rack sculpture. The project goal is to improve the pedestrian
experience and contribute to the growing arts movement happening in downtown
Fairmont.
SITE DESCRIPTION
Exact locations of sculpted metal bike
racks are undetermined. They will be
located within Fairmont’s downtown
district with anticipated locations along
Merchant Street, Adams Street, Jackson
Street, Water Street, and 1st Street.
Project placement will further be
determined by sculpture design.
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Design/Project
Parameters
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Components of the bicycle rack itself must be for long-term outdoor durability and ease of
maintenance.
The rack must support a bicycle by at least two points of contact and prevent the bicycle from
tipping over.
Bicycle wheels should be kept on the ground and the bicycle rack should not require the user to lift
or operate moving parts.
Each bicycle rack should be able to include the capacity for multiple bikes including multiple sizes,
styles, and accessories including baskets or large handlebars.
In order for numerous bicycles to use the rack at the same time, the rack must be able to
accommodate a variety of bicycle locks including but not limited to U-locks, cables, chains, and/or
any combination; while also giving the ability to allow users to lock the frame and both wheels to
the bicycle rack.
The committee will decide if each bicycle rack meets qualifications before approval and installation.
Bicycle racks that will be unacceptable would only support the bicycle by one point of contact and are
prone to tipping the bicycle over, which can block pedestrian access. If a bicycle rack suspends bicycles in
the air, requires users to lift bicycle off the ground, or requires user to operate moving parts then it will not
be considered. The bicycle rack should not contain sharp edges or be difficult to detect for people with
visual impairment. Finally, if the design of the bicycle rack does not accommodate a variety of bicycle
styles, frames, or sizes then it doesn’t fit the requirements of this project. Bike racks will be evaluated on
three criteria: Functional, Aesthetics, and Durability (for more details see Evaluation Criteria).
Bike Rack Material
Specifications
• All materials used must be durable and the surface must be a material from which paint can be
removed. An example of a suitable material is ASTM A 53 Grade B Standard weight steel pipe
that is 2 inches in diameter. This diameter helps prevent vandalism but is still small enough to
accommodate a lock.
• The rack should have a typical height of 36” minimum from base to top. The length and width of
the rack should not exceed 3’x3’.
• The rack should be able to permanently anchor to a paved surface and contain a base plate to fasten
the rack to the paved surface.
• The base plate is made of ASTM A36 3/8” thick plate with three to four holes that are ¾ inch
diameter.
• The exterior surface of the rack shall be nonabrasive, non-marring, and durable to minimize
refinishing or repair.
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Timeline
• Application Deadline:
March 16th 2015
Because of the rigorous project timeline, applications received past the deadline
and those that are found to be incomplete cannot be reviewed.
• Notification of Chosen Artists:
March 30th, 2015
• Installation:
Late May/Early June
Submission
Requirements
Applicants shall include the following information for submission:
• Resume of the artist(s), including contact information
• Bicycle rack design and description (designs may be hand-drawn or prepared using a computer
software program; designs should be to scale and must include proposed materials and dimensions;
description of its functionality)
• Fabrication plan
• Maintenance requirements
• Budget for bicycle rack
• To Apply: Applications may be emailed to: [email protected] (please include Project
CANVAS Bike Rack Application in the subject line) or mailed to: 206 Adams Street, Fairmont WV
26554
Evaluation
Criteria
1-3 Points
Does not hold required
number of bikes, difficult
to lock
4-6 Points
Hold required number of
bikes, easy to lock
Aesthetics
Similar to a
commercially made,
mass-produced bike rack
Creative and innovative
design
Durability
Difficult to clean paint
off of, rack could easily
be broken by vandals
Sturdy, difficult to bend
or break, could be
repainted or paint
removed if vandalized
Functionality
7-10 Points
Obvious to public
how bikes can
easily be held and
locked to sculpture
Creative and
innovative design
that incorporates
elements of the
downtown area
Will not rust, easy
to clean paint off of
if vandalized,
nearly impossible to
bend or break
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Bike Rack
Budgets
Six of the designs chosen will receive a $1,000 stipend for construction and installation of the design. See
notes on installation below. Stipend recipients will be responsible for complete reporting of all project
expenditures and will be required to sign a contract.
Other Project
Guidelines
1. Main Street Fairmont reserves the right to reproduce images of submitted artwork for printed or
internet publicity, catalog, map, or other marketing or educational purposes.
2. Application materials will not be returned.
3. Main Street Fairmont reserves the right to reproduce chosen bike rack designs in other locations
throughout the city of Fairmont as needed. Upon application, chosen artists are granting permission
for this reproduction of their copyrighted design. Every effort will be made to alert the artist when
such reproduction is planned.
4. The City of Fairmont reserves the right to provide oversight and/or complete management of all bike
rack installations.
Artist
Eligibility
Any artist over the age of 18 is eligible to apply.
Applicants under the age of 18 must be represented
by an adult and must be accompanied by an adult
during the installation process.
Main Street Fairmont
206 Adams Street
Fairmont, WV 26554
[email protected]
304.366.0468
Artist
Selection Panel
The artist selection panel will be made up of
stakeholders from Fairmont’s Downtown District, a
representative from Fairmont’s Arts & Humanities
Council, a representative from the City of Fairmont
Public Works department, and a representative from
the Department of Transportation.