Bike rack activism (let's get more bike racks out there in the world!)

[ebikemom]

With ebiking has come my awareness that even if I can get somewhere on my bike, there isn't necessarily a place to lock my bike. So, I started asking for bike racks. At stores. At the dentist. At restaurants. At church. Nicely.

And, today I share a small victory! My church has installed bike racks, as of yesterday! I happily discovered them this morning as I hopefully pedaled by the front of the church on a drizzly morning, on my way to the chain link fence where I have (with difficulty) been locking my bike.

And, there they were! Two beautiful u-racks bolted outside of the church gym door. Wonderful! I knew that the racks had been ordered (last Fall) and arrived (last Fall), but was waiting for them to be installed! Here's a photo of my lovely bike locked up at church!


And, I spoke with another cyclist at church, who was actively involved in ordering, obtaining, and installing the racks. She said that they are ordering MORE racks to put in another handy location where there is now a planter that can be moved to make room, right by the main church entrance. So this will mean that bike racks will be located near the two entrances that are most heavily used. I am grateful to her, to other church folks who volunteered to help install the racks, to the pastor, to the building/grounds committee, and to everyone who showed flexibility in helping all of this to happen!

Oh, and, um, besides asking for racks, I used another technique in my church-bike-racks-activism: I locked my bike to the church sign. This was effective in raising awareness, I think, because some people complained about my bike. And I could say, "Okay, where can I lock my bike?" Yes, that produced some head-scratching moments, because really it wasn't so simple.

Anyway, let's keep asking. Last week I went to the fabric store. No place to lock bike. I asked, and was invited to bring my bike into the store.

Most folks want to be helpful. Let's keep raising awareness and hopefully we will see more bike racks as a result.

Onward and upward!

 

[AlanDB]

I like those U racks. I learned the hard way that the conventional old style racks that have vertical slots for the front wheel are a big risk for a heavy ebike. I had my Gazelle Arroyo locked in one last summer and while I was gone, it somehow fell over or got knocked over. The front wheel turned sideways in the slot and the heavy weight of the bike bent it out of shape. I had to have it replaced. Since then, I no longer use this type of rack. It would probably be OK if you can put the back wheel in the slot, but the battery rack on my Arroyo generally prevents this.

 

[christob]

A flip side to bike rack awareness... notifying the appropriate authority to removed a derelict but locked bike, abandoned in a public rack... I had one removed this way (Arlington County Police has a designated person to contact for this... they tag it, then monitor the locked bike for a few days then remove it.) Yay! The chain and lock and part of the frame were rusted, one tire flat, and worse... it was locked *across* the rack, not inserted into one of the rack spaces... so it blocked easily half of the rack!

 

[Citycrosser]

I make it a point to talk with the manager or whomever is in charge whenever I visit a store on my e-bike that doesn't have a bike rack. I'm always polite and point out that I'm locked up to a fence or light pole, etc. I've asked at Home Depot several times to no avail but the local grocery store did add one a few weeks after my request. My daughter is still working on her high school and it's even written into the policy that they have to provide a bike rack. She's stubborn like me so she'll keep asking.

 

[J.R.]

More public racks! When you think about how money is wasted.....

We saw a beautiful rack at an industrial museum Saturday while biking. It was so well done, and fit in with the industrial revolution theme. I said to my buddy I wouldn't mind having it on my front lawn. Wish I took a picture. They can be nice, almost artistic. Better looking than some modern art sculptures I've seen.

Speaking of racks:

 

[Off road all day]

If you have a 3 grand bike it's on the hit list, my $1000 frankenbike is not, just too ugly If you want it to be steal proof throw some ugly paint on it unless your all about show.

 

[Cowlitz]

My town has some in the downtown area but they are located in bad spots. They put them on the sidewalk near the street on busy corners. They are designed so maybe two bikes could be locked up, but the location is such that your bike seems like it would be in the way. I use the small trees which are better spots.

The Home Depot has a well hidden bike rack but it is where they stack stuff so may be unusable. I do wish that our big outdoor/farm store had bike racks. I lock my bike to the shopping cart returns but they've added a car space so that is not as good as it was. Perhaps I should talk with them? One time an employee told my friend and I to just bring our bikes inside and park them, so it isn't an anti-bike store. Funny, their store is where I get waylaid the most with questions about my bike.

 

[Ian Moone]

I like those U racks. I learned the hard way that the conventional old style racks that have vertical slots for the front wheel are a big risk for a heavy ebike. I had my Gazelle Arroyo locked in one last summer and while I was gone, it somehow fell over or got knocked over. The front wheel turned sideways in the slot and the heavy weight of the bike bent it out of shape. I had to have it replaced. Since then, I no longer use this type of rack. It would probably be OK if you can put the back wheel in the slot, but the battery rack on my Arroyo generally prevents this.

Just a tip .. If you find that you Have to use one of the old style vertical racks, Park your ride Backwards in the slot ! This allows better use of your stand Plus the Rear wheel will give better Support . ?

 

[Ian Moone]

A flip side to bike rack awareness... notifying the appropriate authority to removed a derelict but locked bike, abandoned in a public rack... I had one removed this way (Arlington County Police has a designated person to contact for this... they tag it, then monitor the locked bike for a few days then remove it.) Yay! The chain and lock and part of the frame were rusted, one tire flat, and worse... it was locked *across* the rack, not inserted into one of the rack spaces... so it blocked easily half of the rack!

Yeah, I'm with ya on this! My apartment complex has 2 Community racks outside for us, and there are 3-4 Zombie bikes locked up in them for at least 2 years now, that Never move ! I keep bugging Maintenance to locate the Owners to put them out of their misery ! ?

 

[ebikemom]

@Cowlitz , I think talking to a manager would be a great idea! I say how I run as many errands as I can on my ebike, and how finding bike racks can be a challenge. If they seem to have ears to hear, I also mention that some stores have "old fashioned" bike racks that are made for racing bikes and won't fit my fatter tires. And, I also mention that it's great to have a rack that is in a very visible and publicly accessible area both to welcome cyclists and to prevent theft.

Managers are generally great with the public and happy to hear ideas. Implementation can take time.

I cycle to home depot, too! There's a nice "no parking" sign where I lock up my ebike! I think I'll talk to the manager next time I go! My H and son also ebike to home depot. I wonder where they lock up ... maybe one of the cart corrals??

 

[ebikemom]

Just a tip .. If you find that you Have to use one of the old style vertical racks, Park your ride Backwards in the slot ! This allows better use of your stand Plus the Rear wheel will give better Support . ?

Backwards is also good for those of us who have front baskets which can interfere with some racks.

 

[Ian Moone]

Backwards is also good for those of us who have front baskets which can interfere with some racks.

Yep, didn't think about that . ?

 

[ebikemom]

You probably don't have a cute front basket!

 

[Ian Moone]

You probably don't have a cute front basket!

Yeah, that wouldn't jive with my outfit lol. ?

 

[erider_61]

Racks don't have to be an eyesore either. Plenty of interesting designs out there.

 

[Ian Moone]

Those are Cool ! Pleasing to the eye for sure ! Ours in town are just Thick dark green upside down U's in the concrete, but each business can request them ?

 

[ebikemom]

Love creative bike racks! I also like those plain "upside down U's". If I can lock my bike, I am a happy ebikemom!

 

[trailerguy52]

I love the cool bike racks! I rode my e-mtb to my doctors office last Wednesday and was amazed that there were no bike racks. I locked my bike to a lamp post.

 

[City Commuter]

Generally if they have no bike rack, I don't spend my money there. My doctors clinic has a good bike rack. Some of those racks with only two or four bolts worry me a little. The rack at Target became loose, the nuts were creeping up and I could rock the rack back and forth.

 

[PDoz]

I love the cool bike racks! I rode my e-mtb to my doctors office last Wednesday and was amazed that there were no bike racks. I locked my bike to a lamp post.

In a large purpose built retail facility, bike racks can be relatively easy to incorporate into the design. Not so in an old converted shopfront that already has significant demands upon parking real estate!

Your doctor most likely needs to ensure access for multiple ambulances, wheely walkers, wheelchairs, even mobility scooters. They usually need at least 2 parking spots with extra space for people with reduced mobility, are constantly having to ask eople to move their cars out of the ambulance or disabled parking bays, and haven't yet realised that providing a bike rack will encourage cyclists to park where it is least inconvenient to others . Perhaps point this out?

Don't just ask for a bike rack, explain that bike racks encourage you to park in " the correct " place.