BARRINGTON — If the town has its way, the concept of “park and ride” won’t have to involve parking a car at all.

The Town Council has approved spending up to $10,000 to construct a new bike shelter so people can safely store their bicycles before catching a RIPTA bus to work.

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation is offering to finance the design of the project, which will include the installation of about 10 bike racks and a covered shelter.

The location would be near where the bike path connector meets County Road, according to Town Planner Philip Hervey. There is already a shelter for bus riders.

“You don’t even have to get in the car to take the bus,” he said.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has offered to commit $40,000 if Barrington chips in 20 percent of the cost.

The funds will come from money the town is receiving for the use of town-owned land that is serving as a staging area for the Barrington Bridge construction project.

“I think having bike racks around town is a good idea overall for Barrington,” said Town Council president Jeffrey Brenner when the appropriation was approved. “I think the cost is minimal and we have the funds.”

Hervey said the 100-space park-and-ride vehicle lot at the Barrington Congregation Church — better known around town as the White Church — has been at capacity for years.

Farther south, “The bike connector lot appears to be increasingly used by commuters during workdays. Those 20 spaces seem to be filling up more often nowadays,” he said.

“Providing a secure area to park one’s bike and take the bus would accomplish a few things — encourage biking, promote bus ridership,” and eliminate the need for some people to take a car to a park and ride facility, said Hervey.

gemery@projo.com