Joe Bikerider

Bike racks can be used in a way that has nothing to do with bicycles. See:

Seattle bike racks

avole

Really gives you faith in humanity, doesn't it?

GrainBrain

That's how nature does it I suppose, like thorns on a plant. Makes me extremely uncomfortable that the methods used in the article to discourage homelessness resemble the methods used to rid urban areas of noxious birds.

Personal responsibility vs a bad break.

How much is the city spending on this? Seems like terrible PR for cyclists.

I-Like-To-Bike

Please explain how the newly installed bike racks in Seattle keep away homeless people from that location. I didn't see any of those "spikes" that were pictured installed in Manchester.

avole

Try reading the article, it explains why.

I-Like-To-Bike

No, the article does not explain how these bike racks prevent anybody from sleeping under that bridge. Maybe you can explain the magical homeless repelling power of these bike racks.

The homeless are not there now because the police ousted them and presumably are on orders to do it again as required. No bike racks are required or helpful with such efforts.

avole

No, it clearly explains, together with the police collusion.

With attitudes like yours, it would seem unnecessary to build a wall. Simply telling the truth would keep people away.

Jarrettsin

I would think it's because it's placed where they want to lay down so as not to block the sidewalk. If you block the sidewalk people complain and then the cops will move you along. Easier to panhandle to as people pass! I'm guessing.

noisebeam

Looks like a fine place to hang a hammock under.

CliffordK

I'm not sure I'd want to lock my bike in the middle of a homeless camp.

PavingSpikes.jpg

Somebody is going to kill themselves on those road spikes, and that will be the end of that concept.

I-Like-To-Bike

Bike racks would be a good place for homeless people to lock up their bikes, shopping carts, whatever.

avole

See the third paragraph in the article, and have a nice-ish slice of humble pie ready. It might be bitter, but in my experience, you get used to the taste.

Milton Keynes

Those aren't road spikes. They're anti-homeless spikes keeping people from sleeping on top of that low wall.

CliffordK

Are you sure those are bike racks?

BikeRacks.jpg

Toss a pad under them and a tarp over the top, and they'd make great tents

It looks like someone might have thought of that, those look narrow. But still, they may well become part of the local homeless architecture.

How were they secured to the ground? Around here, most of the bike racks are missing nuts

MidSouthBiker

I thought Trolls lived under bridges. Are the bike racks effective? I've never seen a Troll riding a bike though.

CliffordK

Ahh... I couldn't tell it was raised. Still, it looks like something that a person would trip on. I've been known to walk on "walls". Or, if a person fell into that short well, the bumps could make the fall worse.

CliffordK

I think the idea is to create barriers so one can't lie down. Just like airport benches are notoriously uncomfortable despite passengers often getting stuck for long layovers, and even potentially overnight.

At least that is the premise of the article. It may work, or it may backfire on them spectacularly. As mentioned above, providing racks to lock stuff to could be a big benefit to the homeless who frequently have their worldly possessions stolen.

mr_bill

99% invisible on hostile design

-mr. bill

CliffordK

Hmmm...

All this unpleasantness. As a cyclist, I've had times when I've just needed a break. And laying down for a half hour or so before moving on can be refreshing, and potentially life saving.

I've spent time in airports and train stations where a little R&R is the best thing for the moment... yet, apparently built uncomfortable by design.

I-Like-To-Bike

That may be the premise of the article and the road spikes shown would be effective at making laying down very uncomfortable, but it bears repeating, the road spikes in the article's picture were not installed in Seattle, only bike racks which by themselves would seem to have no apparent effect on preventing use of the area for camping out by homeless people

prathmann

From the 1st paragraph of the article: "Now the tents and the men, women and children seeking shelter there were gone, with 18 new bike racks installed in their place."

So there used to be tents erected by the homeless population in that location. The bike racks take up that space and don't permit the people to set up tents there anymore. Presumably they now set up the tents in a different location - probably less desirable from their perspective.

mr_bill

September 2017

-mr. bill

avole

Do you understand ´ad hominem’?

If you refuse to see how a row of bike racks would prevent people putting up tents, perhaps you might also consider how many people would want to leave their bikes in that location.

noisebeam

looks like the racks are not where the tents were, the tents are set further back from the road

Gyro

Get rid of the garbage artwork under the bridge and let them sleep there. BTW how much cash did they piss away on that junk instead of helping the homeless with it?