The Chainlink

What is up with those new bike racks in Uptown?!?

Don't get me wrong I love the representation of Uptown in any cycling way but the design is horrible. It basically denies you of locking your bike properly!! The whole reason for a bike rack is to lock your bike and now they decided they would do a logo right in between the rack, denying the proper U-Lock wheel and frame locking. Anybody know who to contact to make sure it doesn't happen again or that they do not make every other rack in Uptown the same. I forgot to take a pic but will post one later today.

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Permalink Reply by Josh L. on May 14, 2013 at 3:03pm

I'll defer to folks here with more knowledge about this but my sense is that the "stuff" (not the wheel) is hard to get off and there is a smaller market for a rear wheel.  Anyone needing a rear wheel who is not capable of their own repairs will need to go to a bike shop to get a rear wheel that fits the cassette and the cassette has to fit the front switching mechanism (or whatever it is called :).  Given this the market is just smaller for rear wheels whereas a front wheel is more or less interchangeable (no cassette and other stuff to worry about).  That's the best i can figure out.

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

That doesn't make sense. There's more stuff on the wheel, therefore it's worth more money. And it's really not that much harder to get the wheel off. Just move the chain out of the way.

jolondon30 said:

I would estimate that 90% of the bikes I see around town with one wheel locked are on the front.   I am guessing that bikers' perception is that the back wheel has less resale value because it's got a cassette and requires certain shifters, etc.  

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on May 14, 2013 at 4:08pm

hmm..then why is just about every single wheel locked bike I see locked on the front rather than the rear wheel?  For some reason bikers perceive that the front wheel is more likely to be stolen.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on May 14, 2013 at 4:41pm

On that New York rack there is actually a lot of space if you lock your frame and wheel.  And the rack is really unique.  Only the red bike in the picture is sensibly secured, though.

Here's one that I saw all over Montreal, which is built into the parking space markers. Ew.

And for further review, a rack at French-American Museum in Quebec city, a few days later (mid December 2012):


Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

At least they're not as bad at these David Byrn bike racks in New York.
https://api.ning.com/files/z1RO1iuFc*MLf3y2A4zLIJY7Q125ZwSykLuNDpC6...
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Permalink Reply by Anika on May 15, 2013 at 9:57pm


Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

Well, the guy on the right locked wrong. The bike is supposed to be parallel to the rack. Also, who the hell secures their front wheel and frame but not the back wheel?!

Madopal (7.6 mi) said:

BTW, here's a pick of two bikes locked to the Wicker Park ones.  Notice how the bike on the right winds up having to stick out in the sidewalk, and the one on the left has just the right lock size to fit through that little hole in the logo.  Also, the logo is exactly the same height as what appears to be a 700 wheel.  You'd think they would have tried that before welding it in.Have a bigger downtube or smaller lock, welp, too bad.  Mini-u?  You're out of luck.  Go find another rack or leave your wheel exposed.


Have you never parked next to a cargo bike? It is impossible to park parallel to almost any rack in the city.
Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on May 15, 2013 at 9:59pm
I don't understand. Neither of those bikes look like cargo bikes.
Permalink Reply by Haddon on May 17, 2013 at 9:56pm

The bike rack at Cook Brothers.

Permalink Reply by Sebastian Baptiste on May 19, 2013 at 10:57am

There's a Dutch saying that comes to mind, roughly translated: "Trying to make someone happy with the gift of a dead sparrow".

Tony said:

All these racks were donated by chambers of commerce for the benefit of cyclists. Cut them some slack. They're doing it for you. 

Permalink Reply by Thedutchtouch on May 20, 2013 at 12:14pm
I've locked up to those racks multiple times already. There is plenty of room to thread your lock below (or if your bike is larger like mine above) the logos. It's not like your tires both have to be touching the sidewalk, just life your bike up 6 inches and lock it. Too lazy/weak/no arms? move 10-30 feet down the street and lock up to a sign. Problem solved.
Permalink Reply by Blatherskate on May 21, 2013 at 10:02pm
You're suggesting locking to "dummy poles" as an alternative?
Pull your head outta your ass, cause it's clearly an issue.
Permalink Reply by Thedutchtouch on May 21, 2013 at 10:21pm

my my, someone's got a case of the internet muscles tonight.  not all poles/signs/etc have bolts that can be easily defeated, and some bike racks do. heck, i've locked up to a  (fairly large diameter) tree before, it's better than nothing.

Blatherskate said:

You're suggesting locking to "dummy poles" as an alternative?
Pull your head outta your ass, cause it's clearly an issue.

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