LexRides

[brokebike]

if you could design new bike racks for Lexington, what would they look like? Would you eschew the current "old-timey, horse-ring" theme for something more functional and would allow for more room for bikes?

If space allowed, I think I would prefer something simple and U-Lock friendly, like this:

[Christopher]

I like those, too. Those are the kind we hope to install at our Yellow Bike checkout locations, probably on concrete pads like those a lot of post office boxes rest on.
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[brokebike]

this common rack style is one of the worst, IMO. Any rack where you are encouraged to simply slide one of your wheels between metal bars is just encouraging really bad locking techniques (most folks probably just lock their wheel and not the frame), and also, if it forces you to lift your frame up and rest your downtube on a cross-bar, that just scratches the hell out of your frame in spot that is vulnerable for rust to set in.

[elzie5000]

The racks in Hilo when I was there last year were interesting looking, but I don't know how well they work compared to others.



I hated the ones we have here when they went up, but I kind of like them now. They aren't the best in terms of offering the most spaces to lock up, but they are good at keeping bikes from falling over, if you lock to them the right way.

[brokebike]

this is crude, quick rendering, but I'd like to see something like this:

[charlenemingus]

I not sure that I really like either of these but I thought I would post some images.

[brokebike]

I think simplicity and functionality is the key... it's cool when they try to design clever bike racks, but many times the ultimate function of the rack is compromised in some way.

I'd also like to see bike racks that minimize the visual impact along the street / sidewalk / building, etc.

one of the biggest problems I have with the ones we have downtown currently isn't the fact that there's not enough of them; it's that there's not enough of them in the places where a lot of bikes congregate. Perhaps a different style could be employed in those places where they are needed most, and the city could still have their cutesy horse posts.

[Christopher]

Whereas I will not rest until I see a Bike Tree on every Lexington street corner!




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[charlenemingus]

Kind of like this Brian?



Image above from: http://www.canterburyintl.com/bike_spiral.htm

Check this site our for another cool rack.
http://www.creativepipe.com/horseshoe_rack.htm

I really like this one and it seems more like what Brian was talking about. Plus it can be described as a horse shoe. It fits with the horse theme and seems more versatile than the current horse post bike racks.

[brokebike]

Yes! Exactly like that bottom one. Except that one looks to be positioned a little too close to that wall to be as effective as it could be... and I think positioning them at an angle would take up a little less space.

the spiral rack above it looks a bit too small to me.

[charlenemingus]

Yeah, that is too close to the wall. I love how versatile the horse shoe racks are, though, as seen in these pics.

[jkizzle]

the ones they have in japan and europe are sweet, where you put your bike in a tray and slide it in -- there are even double height ones you roll your bike onto and slide it up on top of the others for more efficient space.

or, like they do in japan, they just just a kickstand and dont have to worry about anyone stealing.

[brokebike]

[seicer]

I remember posting a few of these elsewhere before. Get a kick out of these bicycle parking garages...



3 levels...



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[mickster]

wow, bike garages! where are these?
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