I've been commuting for nearly a year but have only recently gotten a lock. Since then I've been doing a little more stopping at places to perform "Honey do" chores. Most of the places don't have bike racks to lock to. What is the etiquette and standard practices you guys use when locking up somewhere that it does not really seem designed for locking a bike up? Whenever I lock up I always feel as if I am in the way or something.

I always bring two chains, and lock it up on two separate cars.

In order of precedence:
1. Make sure it's safe.
2. Keep it visible, preferably where you can see it. Theoretically, it's less likely to be stolen if other people can see it happen.
3. Keep it out of peoples way, both as a courtesy and so that some idiot would have to go out of his way to damage it.

1. Parallel to the sidewalk unless its extremely wide.
2. Away from the entrance way so you aren't impeding customer flow and you don't want your bike to get nailed by shopping carts.
3. If out in the parking lot, I've chained to light poles next to handicap spots since they're always empty.
4. If to a bench, don't block the ability to sit down on the bench.
5. Don't block the landings on stairways.
6. At the local NJ supermarket, the only place to chain my bike to is unfortunately on the fire hose wheel. But I'm sure the boys carry chain cutters.

Basically, just common sense.

Sounds good. Kind of what I figured. Thanks!

Shop at store that have bike racks.

point out to the store managers that they should provide proper bike parking (no ****ing wheel-benders!), as you prefer to shop where you can conveniently, safely and securely lock your bike, without causing a nuisance or a hazard to others.

do they say they want your business, or do they really want your business?

if the only place you can find to lock up creates conflict with people pushing strollers, people in wheelchairs, emergency services, blocks a sidewalk, blocks shopping-carts, etc... point that out, and politely explain that you'd much prefer proper bike parking facilities.

if your city or state has a published "bicycle parking guidelines", refer them to it. if not, find some other jurisdiction's bicycle parking guidelines and refer to that. most of these guidelines are pretty good; they exclude wheel-benders and help with proper installation of proper racks.

+1 Down the hill from me,somebody keeps locking their Jamis hybrid to a sign right next to the crosswalk ramp at the narrowest part of the sidewalk...about 6ft away from a fence that's at the wide part of the sidewalk and perfect for locking to. I've seen it knocked over 3 times;the first time I picked it up for them,after that I left it to see if they'd learn. They haven't. Given the condition of the bike,I don't think they care.

I'll also add:NEVER lock to someone else's bike,unless you know them. And don't lock in a way that prevents other cyclists from using the rack.

the problem im always faced with especially when i go into more bike populated areas is finding something i can lock up to

something that i can reach with my lock when theres 2 or 3 bikes already locked to it, and making it so that everyone can get out of the pile if they leave first

otherwise i just try to keep my bike out of the way so people can still use the sidewalk or whatever else is near it

Metal railing. Found at most places I go to

Etiquette? That seems too polite a word for what you often need to do.

Basically you get really good at spotting things that won't easily move that you can get a lock around. I use only a cable lock, so the range is more.

So the list is:
- tree
- fence
- railing
- park bench
- the bike (self lock)

I can guarantee you if the FD has to remove your bike they will damage it. Gleefully.

I am currently in firefighter school and you are correct, bolt cutters are a common tool on the firetruck, usually used for gaining entry into a building but if a bike lock was in our way, we would remove it or hunt you down to unlock it, whichever was fastest.

cutting through the bike frame is always fastest.

as an added bonus, it discourages people from locking up to fire-fighting equipment.

here's what happens when you park a BMW in front of a fire-hydrant - https://www.carthrottle.com/car-parki...through-a-bmw/

that'll teach 'im

Take care if you have to move someone else's bike a little to fit yours on the rack, and to make sure they can get out.

As far as locking to non-standard stuff I just take into account the setting and how long I'm going to be locked up there. Would never lock to fire equipment though.

There is no hunting down. And I would guess at least a 50/50 chance that a truckie just hits it with a k-12 saw on the way to the roof!

Common sense applies here:

If you lock it up near a path of egress, such as a staircase railing, I would expect that at a minimum it will end up on the ground and scratched as people would push it out of the way based on principle. I wouldn't be surprised if it had a bent wheel or two either once it hit the ground as people stepped on it. If you lock it up out of the way to a fence, light post or railing, no one will care and it would be fine.

Over here, if you locked if up to a fire hose "dispenser", someone would call the police/fire department and they'd saw the frame and remove it immediately as it poses a threat to occupants of the building. The local authorities definitely would not wait until the fire hose was needed.

acceptable locking spots are away from people and where they'd walk. as far as what happens in those areas, anything goes really.

The hard part for me is U-locking to some crappy comb rack which is shoved against a wall with very little room, and doing so without blocking the walkway or anything.

Random question, is it dangerous to lock to a rack which is bolted into the pavement? I always worry that someone's just going to undo the rack bolts or something... or is that not possible?

And those that do not, tell them to install a 'good' rack if they would like your business.

OP, be sure you do NOT put a sticker with your favorite bands name on your bicycle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Bike_Is_a_Pipe_Bomb
Must have been a really stupid bomb squad that cut into a frame that they thought might contain explosives. That or they just wanted to destroy the bicycle when x-rays showed the tubing was clean.

typical overreaction from a small-town cop.

Sometimes you americans crack me up In Belgium you just put it wherever the hell you want. Outside any popular pub on a friday night half of the sidewalk is guaranteed to be blocked by a layer of bikes 2 or 3 deep. Also, everyone has a beat up old bike for this purpose.

+1

actually, a lot of the time the local football "fans" ride their bikes to the matches. they don't seem so worried about where to lock the bikes up.

needless to say, i'm not excited by attending a sporting event in the states.













information about the "fans": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultras_Frankfurt

they tend to get quite "wound up":

if there are more desirable bikes, with cheaper locks (or locks not used properly!) parked nearby, you'll be fine.

if you've got the most desirable bike and the cheapest lock (or you're not using the lock properly!), then how the rack is attached to the ground should be the least of your worries.

anyway, if you put a U-lock or heavy chain through the rear-wheel and rear-triangle, then even if someone cuts/unbolts the rack, they still won't be able to ride away with your bike... but they could throw it in "the van".

and just because a rack is "sunk" into the sidewalk doesn't mean it's solid. give it wiggle, make sure it doesn't move.

Please, please tell me that's really what you meant to say! I can just imagine locking your bike to two different cars! Coming out to angry drivers and saying "what?! It's safer this way."

in fact, I think I'm going to start randomly chaining cars together, that should be fun!