Bike parking etiquette

Can we agree that it's bad etiquette to take up both posts of the typical upside down U racks that we have here in Chicago? I always park my bike at a 45 degree angle, which keeps the other post completely free without the bike going to far out onto the sidewalk. But I see a lot of people with their bikes flush against both posts, making it difficult if not impossible for 2 bikes to occupy one rack.

I get that if you have two u locks you have a modicum of additional security by locking a lock on each post- but I think it's still bad etiquette- you could lock one to the rack (front wheel and frame perhaps), and the other could lock the other wheel to the frame. Slightly less secure but still pretty dang secure, without using up more than your share of rack space.

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Permalink Reply by ketoguychicago on August 2, 2019 at 2:04pm

From your note Bob, "If someone really is in a hurry and/or isn't careful, they could accidentally loop their lock around the other person's bike."       Yep, happened to me.  

Permalink Reply by Ethan N-G on August 3, 2019 at 7:32am

I don't understand how this is considered etiquette. Bicycle advocacy groups and rack companies frequently educate users of the undeniable benefits in stability and the ability to double tether in situations you will be locked up for long periods. It is not uncommon to see stickers in many cities (I live in Evanston where many racks have these stickers installed by the manufacturer). 

I ride a lot of things that have been mentioned as being a hindrance like front baskets, racks wide bars, etc. 

I am very genuinely confused why those in favor of using the racks counter to the designed use want to call an approach they don't prefer bad etiquette. 

If you want to see a couple hundred bikes locked two a rack including a big variety besides road bikes come to the financial district. West side of board of trade, east side of LaSalle at Jackson is always packed with bikes two to a rack.

Permalink Reply by Ernesto Lube on August 5, 2019 at 11:22am
Permalink Reply by V W on September 3, 2019 at 5:50am

Spotted recently at Mariano's. I'd say this is bad etiquette. 

Permalink Reply by mike w. on September 3, 2019 at 3:09pm

...as well as an invitation to wheel theft

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 4, 2019 at 12:45am

Now THAT's a rack hog.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on September 9, 2019 at 3:58am

That type of rack is called a "wheel bender."  I wouldn't want to lock up my bike by putting the wheen into the dividers intended for the wheel.

Permalink Reply by ketoguychicago on September 10, 2019 at 2:01pm

I put mine over the top bar when possible with the wheel still coming in backwards into the lower gap but if is at least a little safer, but I don't like these either. 

Permalink Reply by ad on September 11, 2019 at 8:14am

As others note, these are horrible racks.  I try to do what the bike at the end did, which is lock perpendicular to the end bar if I can.  Otherwise, the two bikes I ride and lock on the street have fenders, and I literally couldn't put my wheel over the top bar even if I wanted to.  That means I'd have to lock my front wheel only, which is what these racks really expect you to do, and that's no bueno and useless.    

Permalink Reply by ad on September 11, 2019 at 10:11am

"Whether the design of this rack is horrible or not is not a question here, I think."

We'll have to agree to disagree, as I think the horrible design is pretty relevant.  Cool that you can get your bike with fenders to work on this sort of rack.  I haven't been able to, at least not without knocking the fender off of alignment and causing bigger issues than it's worth dealing with.

If it were me, I'd just skip this sort of rack altogether unless I can lock to the end bar, and find something close by that worked better.  That said, I think this example is born just as much out of the fact that the rack design is horrible than it is a complete lack of consideration by the people locking to it.         

Permalink Reply by Dirke on September 13, 2019 at 5:03am

I want to give props to the OP and say that I appreciate respectful rack etiquette in high density parking areas, especially when there is very low probability of theft, like right in front of the lifeguard office at Osterman beach.  I managed to squeeze in on the end, but I was probably "doing it wrong." Happy Friday!

Permalink Reply by V W on September 17, 2019 at 6:42am

The props are much appreciated!

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