Found these on www.unshelved.com, a webcomic set in a public library.

What kind of helmet is that kid wearing?

Those sneaky bikes...

East Hill

Looks like a skateboard helmet with some sort of visor... either that or it's the helm from a suit of armour.

I was thinking that perhaps he was riding a Centurion .

What I find funny is that the other people on bikes are shown doing various tricks WTHOUT HELMETS AT ALL .

Still, it's a fun look at how the people in the libraries look at us .

East Hill

Actually, my local public library has a staircase I'd love to ride down...

I love Unshelved. Of course, I work for the public library. Besides not having to pay fines, I get to park my bike inside. And we have a locker room where I can change from lycra to work clothes.

BTW, to avoid the issue of unlocked bikes in the rack, we have locks that patrons (usually kids) can check out on their card while they're at the library.

I'm going to suggest that to my library, damn good idea.

What a GREAT idea!

East Hill

Disclaimer: I'm a cynical person with a security-focused mindset who loves to analyze stuff like this. Most people aren't, so disregard me at will.

The problem isn't with letting them check out the locks. It's with letting them have the keys.

You could obscure the key code, i guess, and... maybe only give them the keys when they need to *unlock* the bikes, but... it's difficult to see how you could prevent someone from having keys to all the library's locks within a week.

Anyone that intent on stealing bikes would find easier pickings elsewhere.

sure, they might. i was just pointing out that when you're running the calculus of the value of the target you're protecting vs your delaying device, you should be aware that your device might buy you considerably less time than you'd think with public access to keys.

basically, most people here on bikeforums should still bring their own locks.

Hells, I carry a Master Lock No. 40 and seven feet of Kryptoflex cable and I'd still take it inside if I could...

And we don't.

When they're ready to leave they come to the circ desk and we go out and unlock the bike and give them their library card back. They trade their library card for the lock when they come in, although we do check out the lock on their account so we can track "circulation" of them.

As for your other objections, we're talking kids with X-mart bikes here, not Colnagos. Duct tape would thwart most thefts. Every adult I've seen arrive by bike brings their own lock.

In the year since we instituted the program we've had exactly zero bike thefts, as compared to a couple a month before. There has also been an increase of bike rack usage. There are times there's no room on the rack and people lock to the trees instead.

Actually, I was totally fine with everything else except the control of the keys. Kudos on the program.

Looks Roman; this must be at USC. Oh wait, that can't be right, they don't ride bikes at USC, only BMWs.