In addition to inadvertently killing daisies, inadequate parking combined with over-zealous security can lead to unhappy patrons.
Dennis Hayes was sitting outside Starbucks at The Spectrum at Reston Town Center recently when he noticed someone was trying to take his bike right in front of him.
It was the shopping center's security.
Hayes, who was sitting within reach of the bike, was told that the shopping center, which is primarily owned by Lerner Enterprises, has a policy requiring all bicycles to be locked into a rack. Hayes was told that because it was private property Lerner could do whatever it wanted.
Good to know this is the policy of the company that will own the Nationals. In their defense they did make an effort to fix things.
Lerner will install more bicycle racks throughout the property, which includes both the Best Buy- and Harris Teeter-anchored shopping centers.
It may take a little time since the racks need to be specially built, but they will be ordered soon, according to Shankman.
That's all it takes. I can't speak for everyone but I hate locking my bike to a parking meter, bench, railing, garbage can, street sign or water pipe. If you give me any sort of bike parking structure, I swear I will use it. And bike racks can actually be decorative - the one pictured (from Portland of course) is made to look like a bridge - check this out. It would be great if DC ordered some custom racks that really sold neighborhoods. Capitol dome shaped ones for Cap Hill. Saxophones for U Street. Chain Store shaped ones for Georgetown, etc...
BTW, I've noticed new bike racks on Pennsylvania Avenue. At first glance they seem to be simply bolted to the ground (instead of sunk) - much as some in Silver Spring that I was asked about do. So I asked an expert at Dero Bike Rack Company about it. Here's what he said, "An unseen permanent anchor (concrete spike) is used to keep the rack secure. Once these are installed, there is absolutely no way to get them out unless you grind off the heads of the anchors." So now you know. And knowing is half the battle.
There are several photos of bad bike parking situations (along with some good old fashion agit-prop from my very own cycling team) here:
http://www.racingunion.org/CommentView,guid,7063c31d-f447-452c-8af6-d7bc51df03ee.aspx
and here:
http://www.racingunion.org/PermaLink,guid,74aae1ae-8128-44c6-ba02-137c4efc0df9.aspx
Just thought I'd share.
Posted by: Chris | November 01, 2006 at 04:24 PM
Here's some nice racks... we're looking into them for Montgomery County...
http://www.timberform.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.display&pageID=108
Posted by: Jack | November 02, 2006 at 01:53 AM
I like the dignified Green Bollard Cyloops.
Posted by: Chris | November 02, 2006 at 07:12 AM
What's wrong with parking meters or street signs? There are so many poorly designed bike racks, I'd take a simple post any day. There's almost always one when you need it (except in Georgetown) and they don't clutter the sidewalk.
Posted by: Contrarian | November 02, 2006 at 10:01 PM
Well, in the case cited here, I think in fact the bike would be removed if it was locked to a street sign, although this particular case isn't so much a problem in the city.
However, I would disagree with your suggestion that, with posts, there's almost always one available and they don't clutter the sidewalk. I remember, for instance, back in August I was trying to find a place to lock my bike in Adams Morgan - all the posts within sight were already plenty full of locked bikes and, given how narrow the sidewalks are there, they most certainly do clutter the sidewalks. Add to that the fact that many of the posts are in flower beds and tree boxes and you combine the matter with another issue that was recently discussed here.
So, sure posts work in a lot of areas -- maybe even most. But I think where there's a lot of cases where that's just not good enough.
I guess a lot of this is also about attitude - if you have a business and you install a bike rack, you're communicating something positive.
Posted by: Chris | November 03, 2006 at 07:43 AM
I would say there are several things wrong with parking meters and street signs. First thing that comes to mind is, I can hear in the back of my mind my Dad saying over and over again "For every job there is one exactly right tool." This usually followed him catching us using a wrench as a hammer or trying to screw in a phillips screw with a flat screwdriver. But also:
1) Parking Meters are on their way out. They're being replaced with the multi-spot kiosk style meters. In some case the post are converted to bike parking and that's great. But others are being removed and it's not just here in DC but Nationwide.
2) Parking meters are hard to lock to. I have the short U-lock and I usually have to get all A-Team on it to lock my bike up.
3) Street signs aren't that secure. I have heard stories (urban legends?) of people removing the sign on top and lifting the bike up the sign to steal it.
4) Neither of these allow for one to easily lock the bike in two places. An well designed bike rack does (obviously, I'm against poorly designed ones).
Posted by: washcycle | November 03, 2006 at 09:54 AM