And now, for a thread having nothing to do with riding style...
Our local bike/ped committee is considering options for bike parking, and we are leaning to some kind of modification of parking meters, since in metered areas, that would be cheaper, easier, less obtrusive, and just as effective as bike racks. But then someone asked couldn't we just put stickers on the meters with some kind of bike parking symbol. Is additional hardware really necessary? Does anyone know if other cities have experimented with a sticker idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages of additional hardware on meters?
For example, in Somerset, MA, they have attached large iron rings to the meters. I think the advantage is having a loop to avoid a thief just lifting the bike over the meter if the cable it is too loose. However, we notice that the ring is simply bolted on, and it would probably be relatively easy for a thief to just remove the ring and take it along with the bike that's attached to it. (Thus, the ring says "lock bike to post".)
What other good and inexpensive bike parking ideas have you seen?
San Rensho
07-14-06, 02:21 PM
If there is public covered parking, the best solution is to have a bike rack inside, usually near the entrance/exit where the attendant will be, or if no attendant, at least where there will be lots of traffic. Least chance of theft and most protection of the bikes from the elements.
randya
07-14-06, 02:24 PM
You could use security bolts on the rings or weld the bolts to the meter. Portland uses 'staple' racks (inverted U shape) bolted to the concrete, holds two bikes, several on each block face. They removed all the parking meters a few years ago in favor of 'smart park'.
nm+
07-14-06, 02:29 PM
Its not exactly hard to steal a bike off a meter unless its done absolutly perfect (and even then, meter heads aren't that durable in many cases).
Welding a very strong metal loop to the meter wpould be nice, I've seen that done, dunno about cost.
Honestly, in the best biking cities (most of Wisconsin, it seems) many businesses having bike parking, which is what would be ideal, though not possible in many situations.
JohnBrooking
07-14-06, 02:43 PM
To give a little more context, we have a fairly progressive mayor who has asked us to make recommendations about "bike racks" (his words), the idea being that city government would consider acting on any recommendations we have. And as far as I know, there are no plans for removing the parking meters any time soon. (And I guess the city would know if there are.)
HiYoSilver
07-14-06, 02:56 PM
That's interesting, but I don't it would draw in many more riders. Here RTD uses bike locker pads instead of bike racks to get more riders. Also talking to riders at work, more commute because they can stick bike and gear inside locker instead of carrying it all in pack. Obvious places for bike lockers would be:
1. public transit hubs
2. near entrance to major grocery stores and big box stores.
Selling points to major:
1. locker pads are cheap
2. businesses would provide upkeep, instead of city
3. lower theft encouragement as can't see contents of lockers
4. better aesthetics for city, than bikes tied to every which vertical structure and blocking walkways
5. should be fewer reports of bike theft
6. could provide a secure lock, i.e. city lock cyclists rent locks and those renting locks have bikes profiled
to increase odds of recover if stolen
sggoodri
07-14-06, 02:59 PM
I support dual-use of existing and future street furniture in order to save space and money.
Welding a loop onto a parking meter makes it much easier to use effectively with a cable or chain. Tree cages are often useful for bike parking and are sometimes designed and installed for this purpose:
I understand, but bike racks have limited appeal. Lockers are much more appealing to new riders.
The stands look nice, UNTIL you haphazardly put bikes on them. Racks biggest problem is the open invitation to take this bike. You can't put a good bike on a rack and expect it to stick around.
Daily Commute
07-15-06, 03:52 AM
One generally overlooked option is a campaign to persuade merchants to let us take our bikes inside with us. They let strollers in, so why not bikes?
On the question of racks, we have some really stupid ones in my neighborhood. Here are the lessons:
Keep function over form. Most cyclists would rather have something useful than something pretty.
Make sure they are painted, not powder coated. They will get dinged, an re-powdercoating is far, far more expensive than putting on a bit of touch-up paint.
Embed them in concrete. Ours are bolted to the ground and can be removed with a crescent wrench. Would use a lock that could be opened with a crescent wrench? Of course not. You also should not install a rack that can be removed easily.
I think lockers are a great idea for commuters who can rent them on a monthly basis, but they have some practical problems for other kinds of use. The biggest is that homeless people tend to use them as cheap hotel rooms and storage lockers. Prostitutes use them for tricks.
wahoonc
07-15-06, 04:31 AM
I would take a multi pronged approach, depending on the type of parking needed. Bike lockers are great if you have a need for them at train stations or bus terminals. But for everyday business parking, I like the idea of the bollards/mutli use lockups. We own a small retail business (bridal) none of our customers ride bikes to thes store (yet), however there are some business that could draw cyclists (deli and coffee shop) we are adding some planters to the sidewalk area in front of our store, they will have securing rings imbedded in the sides of them. I plan to have them plasticoated or use a good grade of epoxy paint. The city is paying for the planters and the individual businesses maintain them. As far as people taking bikes inside a business, I am mixed on that. In some cases it might be fine, but I am not inclined to allow it in ours, somehow I don't think a dress with a chainring tattoo is going to be a strong selling point.:rolleyes: Yes people do take strollers into businesses but I think it is a far stretch to compare a bicyle to a stroller. Strollers don't have greasy chains and typically are a bit more compact than a bicycle. Also to me a stroller is a necessity if you have a small child. Next thing you know people will want to bring their SUV inside...:p
Aaron:)
HiYoSilver
07-15-06, 09:31 AM
Prostitutes use them for tricks.
Can't you just see the video, a thin drug thing tries to convince this 250 lb bear that he won't get stuck in this narrow pie wedge? :D
Bike handlebars barely fit in the wide area, for those who are unfamilar with bike lockers. Imagine 3 rectanges with a diagonal splitting the rectangles in 2 units. You now have a 6 bike locker pad.
Either issue could be solved by using a java badge lock. People rent a java badge to the city lock. they open the lock with the java card. Store their bike and use own lock. When finished with locker, empty their stuff. Replace the java badge lock and it's ready for the next user. If someone is misusing their java badge, it's siimple for the city to disable that one account and allow others to use the system.
Only cavaet is, I'm not sure the java badge system has been applied to bike lockers. It works with entry doors and now is proximity reader so don't have to maintain a jammed card reader, like a credit card reader.
Jim-in-Kirkland
07-16-06, 09:17 AM
And now, for a thread having nothing to do with riding style...
Our local bike/ped committee is considering options for bike parking, and we are leaning to some kind of modification of parking meters, since in metered areas, that would be cheaper, easier, less obtrusive, and just as effective as bike racks. But then someone asked couldn't we just put stickers on the meters with some kind of bike parking symbol. Is additional hardware really necessary? Does anyone know if other cities have experimented with a sticker idea? What are the advantages and disadvantages of additional hardware on meters?
I prefer to park my bike in a "designated" area where I will not be blocking pedestrians or wheelchairs etc... A sticker & additional hardware would provide the necessary feedback that the nearby merchants and city goverance consider the post an "official bike parking location".
In some locations, a modified parking meter or light post might be less expensive, use available free space and compliment additional standard full size bike racks in other locations.
Good luck with your project!
Jim Hunt - Kirkland, WA
2manybikes
07-16-06, 09:28 AM
To give a little more context, we have a fairly progressive mayor who has asked us to make recommendations about "bike racks" (his words), the idea being that city government would consider acting on any recommendations we have. And as far as I know, there are no plans for removing the parking meters any time soon. (And I guess the city would know if there are.)
I don't know if this is worth anything but.........in London they give tax breaks to businesses that have secure bike parking for employees. Even for things like showers for them etc. I have always thought that would be helpful. Even a tax credit for a good bike rack might motivate some places?
Roody
07-16-06, 02:45 PM
I like using existing street fixtures (with design modifications if necessary) for bike parking. Some areas do need more than that, however. Many of the "cool" areas of my city attract lots of riders. Sometimes I have to lock a couple blocks from the business I'm going to because every nearby lamp post and sign post is occupied. That's inconvenient, and I go into separation anxiety when my bike's that far from me. Sometimes I don't go to the business if ther's no parking.
I try not to chain to trees, which might be damaged. I hate using benches for more than a few minutes because it inconveniences others. Parking meters and low signs are not great, unless you secure the lock very tightly. As for racks, the staple design is my favorite because it's sturdy and you have two points to lean your bike against.
Who pays for bike parking facilities along streets? I imagine shop owners are assessed for the installation, as they are for lighting and other amenities. That seems unfair, if the city is paying to install auto parking.
Would you be willing to pay for bike parking if there was a metered system in bike-popular areas?
wahoonc
07-16-06, 05:57 PM
Roody,
In our case the city is paying for the parking facilities. The town in my case is Dunn, NC (http://http://www.dunn-nc.org/) it is a small town that has some potential. They have just started the revitalization plan, and somehow I got stuck on the committee.:eek: :rolleyes: They are starting with an approximate area of 12 city blocks. The grand plan includes a bunch of items, like getting overheads underground, improving (in this case decreasing) heavy traffic flow thru the downtown area. Attracting new businesses, etc, etc. One thing Dunn does have is a connection to a MUP Rails to Trails. It goes about 5 miles down the pike to an even smaller town. However the trail if developed could lead to several other small communities, it stops on the west side of town, but part of the plan includes bringing it into the center of town. Businesses are not required to provide bicyle parking under the plan, but in many cases I suspect they will when it becomes apparent they will need/want it.
Aaron:)
sggoodri
07-17-06, 08:16 AM
I try not to chain to trees, which might be damaged.
I thought the following site showing tree guard bike racks was interesting:
http://www.vintagemetalwork.com/VMI/gallery-Custom-Ornimental-4.htm
The trees in East Lansing have wrought iron guards like the ones in NYC and they're usually full of bikes.
Speaking of college towns--don't lock your bike in the business district during the bar hours. Something about drunk kids: They love to stomp on bike wheels!
LittleBigMan
07-17-06, 10:05 AM
If there is public covered parking, the best solution is to have a bike rack inside, usually near the entrance/exit where the attendant will be, or if no attendant, at least where there will be lots of traffic. Least chance of theft and most protection of the bikes from the elements.
I feel that way, too, and whenever possible, I bring my bike completely indoors.
randya
07-17-06, 12:46 PM
You have to make a distinction between short and long term bike parking. Streetscape bike racks are great for shoppers and other short term users, but secure covered or indoor bike parking is a must for long term parking for commuters.
For any comprehensive city bike parking plan to be worth anything, it must include provisions for both convenient short term bike parking in the right of way, and require building owners or employers to provide secure long term bike parking on the premises for long term bike parking for commuters.
WiseOwl
07-18-06, 01:55 PM
You have to make a distinction between short and long term bike parking. Streetscape bike racks are great for shoppers and other short term users, but secure covered or indoor bike parking is a must for long term parking for commuters.
For any comprehensive city bike parking plan to be worth anything, it must include provisions for both convenient short term bike parking in the right of way, and require building owners or employers to provide secure long term bike parking on the premises for long term bike parking for commuters.
Exactly. A downtown coffee shop where the early arriving employees get the only publicly available bike parking spaces wouldn't be good for the customers. That'd be the same as a restaurant with only 10 parking spaces and all 10 employees on shift drive to work.
You have to make a distinction between short and long term bike parking. Streetscape bike racks are great for shoppers and other short term users, but secure covered or indoor bike parking is a must for long term parking for commuters.
Great insight. Secure parking is also a requirement for expensive bikes. Can you imagine how long a Cervelo P3C would last on any bike rack? :fight:
You have to make a distinction between short and long term bike parking. Streetscape bike racks are great for shoppers and other short term users, but secure covered or indoor bike parking is a must for long term parking for commuters.
For any comprehensive city bike parking plan to be worth anything, it must include provisions for both convenient short term bike parking in the right of way, and require building owners or employers to provide secure long term bike parking on the premises for long term bike parking for commuters.
There are 3 kinds of parking, bike lockers, secured racks and unsecured racks. There are different time periods, long term parking could be over a day, intermediate parking say 1 - 24 hours, and short term parking, less then 2 hours.
Lockers are best for imtermediate term PUBLIC parking, these could be built similar to a bus/train station locker, where you insert your bike, helmet and other stuff, insert coin(s), and take the key, they check lockers on occassion, for example if your commuter station is closed from 2 - 6am then they might check lockers during this period. They place a seal on in use lockers, where you must insert and turn the key to break the seal, lockers that are still sealed the next night have the contents removed and the lock changed.
Secured racks are intended for intermediate to long term use, they are racks that are in a secured area, where only residents or employees who have bikes in the racks have keys. This could also be used in a paid public garage, where you park and lock your bike in the secured area, get a ticket from the attendant, when you return you surrender your ticket, and claim your bike. A bike check system could also be used, where the attendant takes your gear, and gives you a claim check.
Unsecured racks are the parking meter or stand alone racks. These are good for short term parking, for example I have no problem locking my bike to one, if I am only going into a store for a few minutes. I wouldn't want to, if I were going to a theatre to watch a movie. I could see malls having a combination of parking, say 30% lockers.
Racks are not all bad, I occassionally need to visit one of the notorious high crime areas in my city, and they have racks there, and those racks are always in use:D . The one, I would use if I biked there is almost always full:rolleyes:
SamHouston
07-18-06, 08:42 PM
Look into the lockring program utilized by Toronto. Picking a style of lockring is easy, getting tens of thousands installed isn't. One great part of the program is the public interaction. Anyone may fill out a simple form to the city to request rings in a spot they feel is lacking, if there are no conflicts with bus stop/hydrant/meters etc already in place the ring goes in.
http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/postandring.htm
Every year there are more and more.
HiYoSilver
07-18-06, 09:07 PM
Racks are not all bad, I occassionally need to visit one of the notorious high crime areas in my city, and they have racks there, and those racks are always in use:D . The one, I would use if I biked there is almost always full:rolleyes:
Good analysis. I didn't intend to imply that lockers are the only solution. My point is lockers are needed for both long term and more expensive bikes. Besides cities are simply not commiting enough dollars to promoting cycling and making it as easy as motor and mass transit.
Yuppies not just time trialing and group riding but also errand and commuter riding. What a vision.:D
Roody
07-18-06, 09:43 PM
I just noticed that a new law in Michigan, if it passes, will allow bikes to park anywhere that cars can park, but prohibit bike parking on the sidewalk if it impedes pedestrians:
Bicycle Parking
Under the bill, official traffic control device. An individual could not park a bicycle on the sidewalk in a manner that impeded the lawful movement of pedestrians or other traffic.
The bill would allow a person to park a bicycle on a highway or street wherever parking was allowed for motor vehicles, at any angle to the curb or the edge of the highway, and abreast of another bicycle. A person could not park a bicycle on a highway or street in a manner that obstructed the movement of a legally parked motor vehicle.
Also, an individual would have to park a bicycle on a highway or street in compliance with the Vehicle Code and any local ordinance, except as otherwise provided in the bill.