so many lonely locks
 

Here is a pic I found on the web of bike parking at my office. There are 24 of these crankcase bike locks at my building alone and I have never seen more than three of them in use at any one time. There must be a tax credit for putting these in or I don't know why they put in so many. They are great though. I can secure my bike with only a padlock. It’s nice not to have to carry my U lock.

:beer:
CD

Those look great! I wonder who makes them?

Paul

here's the link where i found the info.

enjoy,
http://www.bikeparking.com/crankcase...ack/index.html

Woof!
Creep dog

Awesome looking locks! I'd ride into work (if I didn't already) just to play with one of those puppies....

our older Park N Rides here in Snohomish county have some older versions of that it opens up and you put your bike in it when you close it it clamps the front and rear weel into it and you can lock it with a pad lock. Just used one for the first time the other night pretty cool.

What a great idea :D

First time I saw those was at Costco here in Santa Clara. Problem was that they were behind a tree and a bunch of parking spots, so if I didn't go the way I did, I would have probably missed them completely. There were like 12-15 of them, all empty. They're either for employee use or something, coz who'd be crazy enough to ride their bike to Costco? :rolleyes: ... I've been known to do that though. :p

Actually, the racks you're describing would be Rack III racks, made in Oakland CA, by a different company. They work really well if used as intended, but they don't fit all bike frames, and are prone to scratching your frame, if that's an issue with you. And. if you secure them with a u-lock instead of using the padlock feature, then your bike is susceptible to all the methods used by thieves these days to defeat u-locks.

I also notice in the posted picture of the crankcase lock in use outside Dell Computer, that neither bicycle has its wheels secured with the included cable lock intended for that purpose. In many cities those wheels will 'walk' on you while you're inside at work. Learn to use both your lock and rack properly, or suffer the consequences. Finally, if these racks are for long-term commuter/employee parking, they really should be covered. The sun in Austin will destroy bicycle tires in no time flat, at a nine hour a day exposure rate, never mind the rain...

I think the pic is just for advertising. You would think that they would have used the cable on the front wheel if it was a promo pic. I admit i haven’t been using the cable on my front wheel. We are kind of out here by ourselves so i don't really worry about my bike. i should use it though. Just in case. It would be nice if they were covered. My bike is spending about 9 hrs a day in the August Texas sun. I'll suggest it.

CD

I haven't seen any racks like those -- ESPECIALLY around here.

Let's see, our library has short posts in the ground with rectangular loops on opposite sides (so each post can lock up two bikes).

The Aberdeen LBS (the one I DON'T go to because of bad C.S.) has no rack -- the Hoquiam one has one of the old, lightweight racks (I don't THINK it's bolted down).

Our local Safeway has these big red bikeracks that are angular with triangles hanging from the top bar (I think colleges use them -- I know Grays Harbor College does and Tacoma CC did when I attended). but the racks aren't even bolted down -- they ARE under the awning, though, but when they put a bunch of sale stuff on the sidewalk guess what gets blocked.

Wal-Mart has a bike rack -- on the SIDE of the building. So I lock my bike up to one of the Aisle number signs closest to the front door. I don't like leaving my bike where no one would see a prospective thief.

The shop I work at doesn't have a bike rack, so I bring it in and put it in the back room.

~~Bren