Gothamist: Design New York City's New Bike Racks

glennQNYC

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:07:24 -0500

JMH's post (#13) is nuts that those are the minimum services to be considered serious. What do you really want, a valet and tune up?

glennQNYC

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:03:38 -0500

First, post #16 is funny because it is true. Although I am an avid cyclist I am horrified at the proposals I see on Streetsblog. Pick the chamois out of your ass and stop whining about life in a city. Second I also didn't cycle to work when I didn't have secure parking for my rig either. I have both too much sentimental value in my bikes, and experience growing up in this town to leave them outside for long. When I could bring the bike inside the ride was a great stress relief though.

ampmfmxm

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:52:41 -0500

I am an avid kickbiker and It would be great to have a way to stash the bike while in the city, even if it was centrally located. It would be particularly cool if it was a membership perk of getting a monthly MTA pass, or if you could use your MTA card, and it was just like a subway ride. I also think that some form of covered bike storage is the best way to go. Here's a link http://kickbiker.com to see what a kickbike looks like if you have never seen one before. I ride mine all over the city and love it. It is also easier on your clothes since ther is no seat or chain.

JenChungsBra

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 23:19:37 -0500

The ideal NYC bike rack would include a tissue box holder for all the crying and whining that cyclists in this city engage in.

babyhitler

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:55:10 -0500

you guys are missing the point completely. The police don't crack down on bike thefts at all. 95% of bikes are never retrieved. they don't give a fuck about you or your bike. When I went to get my bike the serial number had been filed off and the police said I was shit out of luck even though I was smart enough to put a piece of paper with all my ownership numbers inside the handle bar and they found it. all criminals have to do is file off the serial number and you are screwed.

Neil Epstein

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:40:05 -0500

the bike rack at union square nw is pretty cool. it's designed like the new bus terminals.

JMH

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:45:23 -0500

If they're serious about this, bike parking, at a minimum, must: A) Be indoors, to keep bikes clean and dry. B) Be attended, because no lock is realistically going to deter a determined bike thief. C) Include a shower or at least a changing room, because cycling to work in August is going to make a lot of people sweaty. Personally, I'd be willing to pay a reasonable monthly fee for access to such a facility, since I know it wouldn't be free to provide it to people.

Brouhaha

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:36:58 -0500

"A study revealed that a lack of secure bike parking was the biggest reason why people don’t cycle to work." Ack! This is great, but could someone please provide some secure scooter parking as well? Not everyone can ride a bike to work, but anything that gets people out of their cars would be an improvement.

Toby von Meistersinger

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:26:56 -0500

I'll be happy to submit my entry. Now where can I find the blueprints for the Toronto bike post and rings|?

west side Michael

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:07:42 -0500

First a better bike lock design,natch I have seem thieves use a metal bar to break those fancy locks in about 15 seconds out my window.

janelle

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:59:04 -0500

david byrne is a perfect candidate to help judge the designs - not only a cyclist, he also went to architecture school, i belive. for anyone lucky enough to have a little extra space in their apartments, you might want to look into these http://www.rutlandindustries.com/mini_mum/index.html

JacqueMehoff

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:37:31 -0500

We need a bike check/valet like what they have at the former Comiskey Park and Wrigley Field.

drewo

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:30:37 -0500

I've also seen a whole bunch of mexican gangs going around looking at bikes. Where and when? Maybe snap some pix for us next time you see this "gang"?

babyhitler

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:24:30 -0500

no matter how good the bike rack is the mexicans will get your bike. Trust me. There is a network of mexican bike thieves that work hand in hand with the mexican delivery guys. If you go to any takeout place you will see a rack of delivery bikes. Look at the bikes! they are all stolen and have been taped up and camouflaged. This is how it works. mexican delivery guy delivers food to a apartment, looks around at the bikes in the neighborhood, if he sees a good bike he'll call in the thieves and they will steal it with a van full of power tools. How do I know this? my bike was stolen and then I recovered it by luck one day as I was passing a deli. the cops told me these guys have a criminal ring but bikes aren't high on their crimes to quash list. I've also seen a whole bunch of mexican gangs going around looking at bikes. they broke my 200 dollar kryptonite chain, my 100 u-lock and I had 2 wheel locks. 4 locks altogether. They broke $350 dollars worth of locks just for a $250 dollar used bike that they sold for $100 bucks. RIDICULOUS!

jt10000

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:15:05 -0500

The U racks are not bad if you're willing to leave a bike outside. My "problem" is my bike is a bit too nice for that. I'd ride to work if I was allowed to bring it inside. But the building won't allow it.

Gwinny

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:11:51 -0500

EastRiver: I ride a bike I bought secondhand for $70 to work. It's neither clean nor attractive, but it is in perfect working condition and no one has ever messed with it (I park it outside at home too). Even if someone ever did do something to it, the whole bike cost me less than a monthly Metrocard and has recouped at least 10 times that amount.

EastRiver

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:06:25 -0500

Bike thieves are the reason I don't ride to work. Until they have indoor storage manned by a guard making more than minimum wage I'll stick to the subway.