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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 12, 2011 at 2:54am

That is a neat concept.  Doesn't look cheap though.  I wonder how much $$$ such a thing costs to install, maintain, and power in the long run.

 

The unit in the first picture looks like a real eye-sore to me.  Perhaps it is the yellow coloring of the frame rails and the exposed nature of the bike storage.   The covered system in the following picture looks more like something that appeals to my architectural senses.

 

Is space THIS much of a problem for bike racks?  Maybe in some cities and portions of even downtown Chicago   Sure, there are space limitations but bikes don't really take up THAT much space.  

 

Not only do these space-saving mechanized monstrosities seem to be expensive and potentially ugly, but I see that they might not be very convenient as far as people coming and going quickly (one of the best things about riding a bike IMHO.)  How long are we to wait in line for the people in front of us to load/unload their bikes into the mechanical innards of the beast before we get our turn?  Maybe it can be designed so that it operates quickly and it is a simple on/off loading maneuver so that a line doesn't back up.  I have my doubts.  People are just sloooooow...........

 

In the end I see these things, if they ever become popular, becoming yet another revenue source for the city or building owners to the point where free outside bike parking is discouraged or even banned so that they can make their money and charge a captive audience of consumers.  Anyone remember the parking meter fiasco?  That's how things are done in this city.  

 

iggi said:

another alternative to bike parking...vertical parking lots...

 

http://webecoist.com/2011/05/11/vertical-parking-lots-brilliant-urb...

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on May 12, 2011 at 3:47am

That particular stretch of Milwaukee Avenue has a lot of competition for bike parking, car parking, as well as a constrained sidewalk with a lot of pedestrians and increasingly, permitted outdoor seating for bars and restaurants. With respect to the vertical parking structure, there isn't a lot of open vertical space between buildings-it's more of a wall-to-wall cityscape.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if a couple of blocks of Milwaukee Avenue south of North Avenue becomes off-limits to automobiles in the next four years or so, a la the pedestrian plaza in Times Square or the one in Seville, Spain discussed in the OP's RedEye article.

James Baum said:

[snip]

 

Is space THIS much of a problem for bike racks?  Maybe in some cities and portions of even downtown Chicago   Sure, there are space limitations but bikes don't really take up THAT much space.  

 

[snip] 

 

iggi said:

another alternative to bike parking...vertical parking lots...

 

http://webecoist.com/2011/05/11/vertical-parking-lots-brilliant-urb...

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Permalink Reply by Dan Korn on May 12, 2011 at 4:11am

Will there be separate parking for tall bikes and fixies?

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 12, 2011 at 4:17am

I was down at Gus's shoe repair in Lincoln Park (2300 block of Clark) yesterday seeing about a nose-tore Brooks they are trying to repair for me (I have my doubts this is going to work but it is worth a try.)  I couldn't help but notice there are few options for bike parking in that stretch of Clark.  The sidewalk is very Very narrow between the storefront and curb, and the only place to lock up even temporarily was the bolted-in signposts.   I was only there for a few minutes so it wasn't a big issue but I wouldn't want to have to leave my bike there for more than a short time.  Even so I was nervous about it. 

 

I tend to stick close to the Logan Square/Bucktown area mostly but I do venture out a bit further at times when things warrant it (are there any good shoe/leather repair places nearer to Logan Square than Gus's in Lincoln Park?)  Why venture very far when everything one really needs is only mile or three from home?  I do ride further out when joy-riding but often I'm not parking, just riding around.   I have to admit that other parts of the city are not so bike-friendly -especially downtown.  

 

The North/Milwaukee bike park will be interesting to see but I usually don't have that much trouble finding parking in that area.   Now I guess I rarely will in the future either.

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Permalink Reply by payton on May 12, 2011 at 3:37pm

This has been in the works since at least 2008, and I think I (ahem) had requested it in the SSA budgets for 2009 and 2010. Alderman Flores was very helpful in freeing up curbside spaces (which had been designated for "loading") throughout the ward. However, confusion within the city over how to accept the donated bike racks put the project off until now. So very glad to see it finally happen after all this time!

 

WPB taxes both businesses and residents along the area's main streets. Adding bike parking here will hopefully cut back on people locking to street trees, wheelchair handrails, and other things that you shouldn't lock to around there; it also reclaims a big chunk of street for bikes at a very prominent intersection.

 

(Please don't give any credit to Rahm.)

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on May 12, 2011 at 4:01pm

Thank you, Payton. I forgot to mention Alderman Flores and yourself. I remember seeing you on the Commissioners board at a meeting I went to several years ago and part of the Transportation committee.

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Permalink Reply by Jason W on May 20, 2011 at 5:43am

Another article.

 

http://timeoutchicago.com/things-to-do/this-week-in-chicago/1476567...

 

This one mentions "protected by curb stops". It also mentions "Moreno is exploring the possibility of removing one lane of car parking on the street from California to Division to make room for a Seville-style separated bike lane."

 

Oh and we went from F**k Portland to F**k LAZ parking!

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 20, 2011 at 8:59am

F**k LAZ?  -Just give them another 75 years of revenue (and control over urban planning) to fill a one-year budget hole...

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Permalink Reply by Davo on May 20, 2011 at 10:26am

Fixies are the only bikes in that area :P

Dan Korn said:

Will there be separate parking for tall bikes and fixies?

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