Bicycle Racks. Top to bottom: Building railing; Hitch rack, developed by Bicycle Foundation; Ring rack, used in Toronto; Sheltered rack. All these racks allow cyclist to secure frame as well as wheels.

Bicycle Racks

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Bicycle rack design has evolved noticeably in response to changes in both bicycle design and security needs. Older, flimsier rack designs, such as the still-prevalent schoolyard “dishrack,” harken to less crime-ridden days, when a light chain through the front wheel was sufficient defense against theft. Today, with easily removed “quick-release” bicycle wheels and seats, and the emergence of bicycle “chop-shops” with teams of parts-strippers, the need is for racks that provide multiple locking points, including the bike frame and both wheels.

Many of the newer rack designs are based on ordinary horizontal railings, which fit this bill nicely. The Hitch 2 and Bike Rail employ a horizontal bar with vertical supports for additional locking points. The Ribbon Rack, while less railing-like, also provides numerous locking points; its stylish look has made it popular with architects and building owners who have installed dozens in prestigious locations such as Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center and New York University.

All three designs are sturdy, virtually impossible to dismantle, and manufactured in the U.S. They are also relatively inexpensive, with installed costs per parking space of approximately $75. Hitch 2, Bike Rail and Ribbon Racks can easily be bolted to the sidewalk or set in concrete.

Ribbon racks at NYU. Photo: Jon Orcutt

While all-day bicycle commuting requires bike parking indoors, outdoor parking is often both convenient and appropriate for messengers, shoppers and others making brief visits to buildings. Cyclists leaving bikes outdoors need not negotiate lobbies, elevators and hallways, nor provoke the ire of obstinate building managers.

Workable long-term outdoor bike parking in New York City requires cyclist education as to what types of locks will hold up under street conditions, including the vital information that U-locks used alone are insufficient to prevent theft. Moreover, the bike racks themselves should be placed within view of building security personnel or the cyclist her/himself. This need not entail additional personnel, if guards can be instructed to keep an eye on bike racks and to thwart theft attempts as part of their job. For buildings that don't maintain a security force, such as restaurants and small stores, racks should be situated in front of windows so they may be viewed by the cyclist or other patrons or employees.

Spiral rack. Dobra Design

City government also needs to streamline the official approval process by which property owners install bicycle parking. Rules for emplacing bicycle racks on New York City sidewalks are unclear. The NYC DoT has not produced a simple step-by-step guide to the approval process, despite repeated requests to the agency's bicycle coordinator from the cycling community. A Park Slope environment-friendly product store which sought to install an outdoor bike rack in 1992 endured a bureaucratic goose-chase before deciding to establish the parking site without authorization. While it is unlikely that the City will request the removal of self-installed racks, inability to easily discover official guidelines and receive stamps of approval will discourage many private businesses from investing in bike parking facilities.