Originally Posted by
MichaelW
None of those fancy racks are as good a bike rack as the Sheffield Stand.
SS stands shoudl be made of smooth stainless steel. The ones at my workplace are nasty seam-welded galvanized steel with a horrible rough surface.
The only problem with sheffield stands is the number of ways you can install them incorrectly:
To close together so you cant fit 2 bikes and one rider in the space.
Alonside a a pole or wall , so the outside parking space is not usable.
Butting up against a wall so you cant have a wheel extending outside the rack area.
Too high so small bikes dont fit so well.
In a poor position: obstructing natural pedestrian routes or fire escapes.
Placed at right angles to path instead of en-echelon where space is limitted.
Placed as far from front door as possible.
Placed where trucks reverse.
I have to agree that simple is good. The reason I mention the "art racks" is that sometimes these are easier for "city fathers" to accept... rather than the basic Sheffield Stand. Just as a nice wide MUP can go over far easier than a "bike freeway." Sometimes you just have to sneak up on some of these close minded decision makers.
And yes indeed, poor placement can kill a good rack.
My local grocery store finally put in a wave bike rack... right up against a brick column. You can only park one bike against it.
