General Cycling Discussion - Public Bike Stands

Hi folks,

I'd be very grateful if you could give me some comments or debate on public bike stands to help with a college project.

I want to look at designing a more secure bike stand, what are your thoughts on existing stands? How do you think they could be improved? What features do you think are important? What issues do you see with this idea?

Cheers,
Jimmy

IMO the best public bike stands aren't really stands at all they are lockers. The only thing I really care about is that my bike is there and ready for me to ride when I return so security is number one. That being said I think the only way to discourage a thief is to "hide" the bike so they don't know what they are going to get for their effort, so bike lockers which can't be seen into are my preferred choice.

There are plenty of good bike racks out there. My personal favorite is the "wave" rack. I also second bike lockers for places like train stations where you have to leave a good bike for an extended period of time. In my experience the two biggest problems are lack of racks and ones that are installed are too close to buildings or too close together.

Aaron :)
http://www.parknpool.com/products/55/images/55br-006_f.jpg

Along the locker theme , using Chain Link Fencing and Poles ,
and hanging the bike by the front wheel
I recall the Down town Campus built a grid of lockers each with a triangular footprint.
\/\/\/\/\/\/ so bike was locked behind a door ,closed with a U lock,
owned by the cyclist.
Heavy steel and Galvanized finish.

I find carrying around a bunch of extra fence usually does the job

http://davelove.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/2198371466_729d1f5a9d.jpg

There are plenty of good bike racks out there. My personal favorite is the "wave" rack. I also second bike lockers for places like train stations where you have to leave a good bike for an extended period of time. In my experience the two biggest problems are lack of racks and ones that are installed are too close to buildings or too close together.

Aaron :)
http://www.parknpool.com/products/55/images/55br-006_f.jpg
I also like these racks. They're very nice for using the Sheldon Brown method with a mini-U. I hate the ones that are basically gratings with || || || || ||. Those force me to have my bike straddle the rack, and that's only if it isn't already crowded.

http://www.bikegard.net/

people talking about bike lockers, this is the first thing I find on google that I like.

Want.

http://www.bikegard.net/

That is exactly what I was talking about.

That is exactly what I was talking about.

Dunno if my loaded city bike would fit in there...

Aaron :)

This rack puts the "FUN" in functional :D
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5495168701_e5126a4837.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/44332608@N03/5495168701/)
NICE RACK (http://www.flickr.com/photos/44332608@N03/5495168701/) by 1nterceptor (http://www.flickr.com/people/44332608@N03/), on Flickr