A Second Look at Washington Avenue Bike Racks
Back on April 18th I talked about bike racks on Washington Avenue. How they couldn’t be used as designed. Click here to review that post (and the pictures).
Last night I was back downtown and decided to try out some suggestions on locking the bike to the rack in alternative ways.
Part of the problem with the proper way is that the front wheel extended into the path of pedestrians. So alternates focused on locking the bike parallel with the curb rather than perpendicular. At right is one such example.
As you can see the bike is forced up against the back of the bench. But, I’d be able to lock up the frame and front wheel if I used a cable lock.
The alternative is to lock to the rack from the path side. Again, it works, just not as designed. Bicyclists are a resourceful bunch. Have cable will secure bike.
This type of rack is more style than substance. In the right setting I’m sure it is nice. It was simply the wrong choice for this streetscape. Also, I noticed this one rack serves the entire city block with two massive buildings.
I rode further West on Washington Avenue to get the picture on the right. This rack, an “inverted U,” is the ideal bike rack in my view.
The rack is designed to hold two bikes parallel with the street. The bikes can be turned either direction as the owner decides. If the bike doesn’t have a kickstand the rack will help support the bike. This is a simple rack and one of the most functional. If you specify bike racks for construction projects you need to have a good reason not to pick this one.
– Steve
Why do I have to try really hard to see any signs of people in these pictures? It looks like there’s a pedestrian across the street in the top photo. And that looks like a car driving by. In the bottom photo I can see all the way down the lonely looking block. Isn’t this a residential area?
[The first two photos are from just after 5pm on a Monday night. This particular block of Washington Avenue is just not that busy. Many users of the buildings park their cars on the side or back lots and don’t even use the front door. As more lofts open in these blocks this will hopefully change. The last picture suffers from much the same issue. I happened to be at the far Western end of the newer streetscape. A few cars were behind me and a car had just stopped to let someone out. The area is not as active as I’d like during the week but I am optomistic it will improve in the next year or two as the lofts are occupied and the retail spaces fill up. – Steve]
I understand. I haven’t lived in St. Louis since the Washington renovation, so I’m not familiar with the specific locations of these photos. My only interaction with Downtown STL lately has been through the internet. From what I’ve been reading I thought there would be a few more souls milling about. It sounds like things are really starting to jump there!
I just got back from Amsterdam a couple weeks ago. The amazing thing is, bikes outnumber people in that city. Even more amazing: there is not a single bike rack to be found! That may be a bit of an exaggeration, since there *is* a multi-level BIKE parking garage at the train station, but in general, whatever doesn’t move acts as an impromptu bike rack. Light posts, bridge railings, benches, you name it. Is it legal in St. Louis to hitch your bike to a lamppost?