The Chainlink

I posted this before and I am surprised this doesn't bother anyone.  But, when you're searching around the loop and trying frantically to find a place to park your bike.  And then you come across this.

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Maybe cyclists shouldn't be "forced" to have only one locking point, but if this kind of locking in this context is "appropriate," then this would seem to imply that some cyclists are appropriately "forced" to find parking someplace else.

Would you rather have the security of two locking points, once you've found an open rack, or the greater assurance that a secure-enough spot will be available near-ish to where you're going? I think the fact that I almost never see wave racks parked this way downtown, while I see lots of perpendicular parking on full racks, suggests what the consensus on this point seems to be.


h' 1.0 said:

It's not a great design, but the bikes in the photo are locked appropriately IMO.

Cyclists should not be forced to have only one locking point. Looks to me like there is room for at least two more bikes.

I have - on many occasions.
 
David Altenburg said:

I'm pretty sure I've never seen 6 bikes simultaneously locked up to a rack of this design, which would indicate it is a poor design. Or it could indicate I'm just not very observant (which


Me too.  Especially in the loop.

This is just inconsiderate, akin to parking your car across two spaces. Especially with the loss of so many parking spots when the parking meters were removed.

Yes, it's nice to have two locking points (for those few who use two locks), but that is clearly not the point of this rack design. Save that for the u-racks that are designed for two bikes (but even those can accommodate three in a pinch if parked perpendicular).

Anne Alt said:

I have - on many occasions.
 
David Altenburg said:

I'm pretty sure I've never seen 6 bikes simultaneously locked up to a rack of this design, which would indicate it is a poor design. Or it could indicate I'm just not very observant (which

+1   

This is just inconsiderate, akin to parking your car across two spaces.  Yes!!!

JeffB (7+ miles) said:


Me too.  Especially in the loop.

This is just inconsiderate, akin to parking your car across two spaces. Especially with the loss of so many parking spots when the parking meters were removed.

Yes, it's nice to have two locking points (for those few who use two locks), but that is clearly not the point of this rack design. Save that for the u-racks that are designed for two bikes (but even those can accommodate three in a pinch if parked perpendicular).

Anne Alt said:

I have - on many occasions.
 
David Altenburg said:

I'm pretty sure I've never seen 6 bikes simultaneously locked up to a rack of this design, which would indicate it is a poor design. Or it could indicate I'm just not very observant (which

Ok, fair enough. I don't typically lock up in the Loop (my employer provides bike parking), so that may be why I haven't noticed. 

I'm still not a fan of this type of design, but I will concede that those who want to lock up at 2 points should be willing to look for another type of rack, given that their locking style is not the common case.  Personally, I'd rather lock up with 1 lock near a lot of other bikes than use 2 locks in some solitary location. It's rare for my bike to be the nicest-looking or my lock to be the weakest in any group of bikes.  

I do think the analogy to cars taking 2 spots is not a fair one. In the case of cars, they're doing that solely for their own convenience and/or laziness, as opposed to trying to balance security and consideration to pedestrians with consideration to other bikers.

JeffB (7+ miles) said:


Me too.  Especially in the loop.

Anne Alt said:

I have - on many occasions.
 
David Altenburg said:

I'm pretty sure I've never seen 6 bikes simultaneously locked up to a rack of this design, which would indicate it is a poor design. Or it could indicate I'm just not very observant (which

I use to work at the Mart. They have same design and if someone parked this way security was on them.

How do you lock 7 bikes to this?



Kevin C said:

I understand the benefits of locking to two points of a rack, but I think the intent of this design is for multiple bikes being locked up. From the manufacturer

That's interesting.  I work  at the Mart and I never knew they did that.  Good to hear.

Frankie Equality Suda said:

I use to work at the Mart. They have same design and if someone parked this way security was on them.
The opposite problem at 225 N. Michigan. Us late risers have to lock over the rack. Racks for two bikes usually have three. The rack in the middle is for six bikes but occasionally has seven or eight on a nice summer day. This was taken leaving work so a few spaces are open.
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I've seen similar situations in a number of Loop locations that don't have enough bike parking.

Eric R said:

The opposite problem at 225 N. Michigan. Us late risers have to lock over the rack. Racks for two bikes usually have three. The rack in the middle is for six bikes but occasionally has seven or eight on a nice summer day. This was taken leaving work so a few spaces are open.

It seems like it might  be possible to park on the "diagonal" and take up less space on the sidewalk and be a little further away from car doors. I do this when I think the sidewalk is a bit narrow for a perpendicular bike.

Yes it is poorly designed/installed.  It should installed further from the curb so a wheel can be positioned comfortably perpendicular to the rack.  If they intended bikes to be parallel to the curb, they should've used single "n" shape racks.  Also someone pointed out drivers flinging their doors open.  That is an excellent point.  They should paint the curb yellow next to a bike rack, eliminating one parking space.  

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