A Little History of the Fort Collins Bike Library

When the Bike Fort Collins Bike Library management team, headed by Jeff Morrell, then President of the Board, was preparing the kiosk in Old Town Square in the late summer and fall of 2008 they found an artist ready to paint a mural.  It was modeled after the famous Perfecta bicycle poster by the Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha.   After some deliberation a few members of the board of Bike Fort Collins prevailed on having the mural cancelled.  The argument against went something as follows: 

"Women have struggled for centuries to be considered the equals of men.  The bicycle played a role in that struggle.  Indeed, Susan B. Anthony, that stalwart crusader for the emancipation of women, said in 1896 that she thought the bicycle had “done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.”  The mural scheduled for the bike library kiosk reminded us of the 1880s idea that women are beautiful and men ride bicycles.

Several members of the Board of Directors of Bike Fort Collins prevailed and the mural was cancelled.  In its place today is an 1880s penny farthing.  

(For a hand made oil portrait of the original click here.)