Bike rack pet peeves

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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on May 24, 2014 at 6:31am


Just how long do plan on keeping it parked there with your newest bike? People are running out of space to lock up to.

Paul Gnarlo said:

that's my blue huffy! whats wrong with the park job?

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on May 24, 2014 at 7:04am

It's so funny really. It took like 6 months for them to pick up ones I reported a while back, then a new one shows up to take its place.

h' 1.0 said:

I reported an abandoned bike at my daily rack via online form avout 2 months ago.... no action thus far.

Thanks, St. Gabe, for leaving the city bike program a dysfunctional mess.

Permalink Reply by Simon Phearson on May 24, 2014 at 8:08am

I'm curious how people are supposed to use these kinds of two-fer spots. Intuitively, and just based on my own bike-upbringing, I keep wanting to park perpendicular to the center-post, if that makes any sense, with the lock going around one of the side posts, the wheel(s), and the lower part of the frame. That tends to mean that the bike juts out into the sidewalk, away from the spot. But I see a lot of people parking parallel to the center-post, so that I see a lot of two-fers parked with two bikes seat-to-handlebar. That's a more efficient use of space, it doesn't invite jarring by passers-by, and it opens up the possibility of locking both wheels without having to remove one. The only thing about it, that I think of, is that it puts your bike right up against someone else's, possibly requiring a bit of jostling the other bike to get yours on or off. Is that kind of how it works, downtown? Are downtown parkers just kind of cool with that kind of proximity, the way you might be on an El train or packed bus?

Permalink Reply by Tom Z on May 24, 2014 at 12:38pm

Those handlebars are backwards on the Huffy...

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 24, 2014 at 1:07pm

I believe the appropriate way is to park the bike parallel, but outside my office almost everyone parks perpendicular.

I feel parallel is a more efficient use of space and takes up less of the sidewalk, allowing freer pedestrian movement. But, I do notice that parking perpendicularly can allow a savvy bike-parker to add a third bike to an already "full" rack.


Simon Phearson said:

I'm curious how people are supposed to use these kinds of two-fer spots. Intuitively, and just based on my own bike-upbringing, I keep wanting to park perpendicular to the center-post, if that makes any sense, with the lock going around one of the side posts, the wheel(s), and the lower part of the frame. That tends to mean that the bike juts out into the sidewalk, away from the spot. But I see a lot of people parking parallel to the center-post, so that I see a lot of two-fers parked with two bikes seat-to-handlebar. That's a more efficient use of space, it doesn't invite jarring by passers-by, and it opens up the possibility of locking both wheels without having to remove one. The only thing about it, that I think of, is that it puts your bike right up against someone else's, possibly requiring a bit of jostling the other bike to get yours on or off. Is that kind of how it works, downtown? Are downtown parkers just kind of cool with that kind of proximity, the way you might be on an El train or packed bus?

Permalink Reply by Eli on May 24, 2014 at 2:14pm

Certain combinations of racks, bags, baskets, handlebars, and locks can make it difficult or impossible to lock two bikes parallel to the rack.

Permalink Reply by Josh L. on May 25, 2014 at 5:39am

I've often wondered this myself. Which way are you supposted to lock up with these kinds of racks?  Seems like the bikes balance better when you are parallel though it does cause conflicts as previous poster noted.  Probably a good kickstarter project would be a better rack design.

Permalink Reply by EssFresh on May 25, 2014 at 9:47am


Yup, reported one in February, just got removed 2 weeks ago.


Juan 2-8 mi. said:

It's so funny really. It took like 6 months for them to pick up ones I reported a while back, then a new one shows up to take its place.

h' 1.0 said:

I reported an abandoned bike at my daily rack via online form avout 2 months ago.... no action thus far.

Thanks, St. Gabe, for leaving the city bike program a dysfunctional mess.

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on May 27, 2014 at 2:52am

Are you also responsible for all those other bikes that show up without locks just leaned up against the rack? These dusty low air filled tire bikes look like they have been pulled out of some condo's bike storage then hang around for a few days or even weeks.

Paul Gnarlo said:


I think it may be there a while longer. The lock needs some wd40 since it is not opening right now. The seat/seat post were stolen and she still needs a little bit of work to get going again. There are a few other racks over by bar louis and around the corner on clark that you can post up to.

On that note, if anyone wants to but the huffy pictured above as is, feel free to make an offer!


Juan 2-8 mi. said:


Just how long do plan on keeping it parked there with your newest bike? People are running out of space to lock up to.

Paul Gnarlo said:

that's my blue huffy! whats wrong with the park job?

Permalink Reply by NYC (7.0 mi) on May 27, 2014 at 3:44am

Not seeing what you are seeing.  Please explain.

Tom Z said:

Those handlebars are backwards on the Huffy...

Permalink Reply by JeffB on May 27, 2014 at 4:47am

I prefer perpendicular, as long as there is sufficient space on the sidewalk.  It avoids tangling with another bike and allows for a third bike over the top.

Alex Z said:

I believe the appropriate way is to park the bike parallel, but outside my office almost everyone parks perpendicular.

I feel parallel is a more efficient use of space and takes up less of the sidewalk, allowing freer pedestrian movement. But, I do notice that parking perpendicularly can allow a savvy bike-parker to add a third bike to an already "full" rack.



Permalink Reply by Gecko on May 27, 2014 at 6:25am

I think Tom meant the Roadmaster.  I don't see a Huffy, but I'm assuming by Paul's response that the road bike in the back is the Huffy, which appears to be properly assembled.

And FYI, it's not the handlebars on the Roadmaster that are backwards, it's the fork.  The brakes should be on the front of the fork, not the back, so the cable doesn't bind on the down tube when you steer.  Also, forks are designed with "rake", which is why they're intended to only be used one way.  If the fork is backwards, it throws off the whole handling of the bike.  It's surprsingly common with department store bikes, since they're not assembled by professional mechanics.

Tom Z said:

Those handlebars are backwards on the Huffy...

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