Bike Parking

Overview

Ease of parking is one of the great benefits of using a bicycle for transportation. Door to door, cycling is the fastest mode of transportation for trips under 5 km and parking plays a big part.

Bike parking is usually considered in two forms: short term and long term parking. Short term bike parking users are typically at their destination for less than 2 hours. Long term parking is roughly defined as all-day bike parking, the kind of facility provided for employees who cycle on a regular basis. Parking is often coupled with other facilities, such as showers and lockers.

What a business does (or doesn't do) can make a big difference and speaks volumes about their commitment to the health of their employees and the health of the environment. Here are some helpful links: INSERT EMPLOYER LINKS

For individuals, there is an art to parking a bicycle. Not only is your goal to keep it from getting stolen, but also to make sure that it is protected from the elements. Keep reading for some handy tips.

Top 9 Bike Parking Tips

1. Park Inside.
The ideal parking spot is completely protected from the elements and prying eyes. Many workplaces have a storage room that are used to store bikes. Ask a cyclist in the office. If you don't have one, talk to your building manager. Many City of Winnipeg parkades are outfitted with bike racks that are under cover. Many are located within sight of the parking attendant. For more info on bike parking downtown, see the Downtown BIZ's online parking map.

2. Get a good lock. Cable locks can be snipped too easily, as can your the chain and padlock. The u-lock (or D-Lock) is the tried and true answer. Buy a good quality one. Look for u-locks with the key mechanism placed midway along the bar - - ideally with a cover than can be closed during inclement weather. Keep your locking mechanism lubed. There is nothing more frustrating than a broken key.

3. Use your lock properly.
Get a lock that is long enough to lock your frame and one of the wheels. That will minimize your potential loss. It will also minimize the ease with which a crowbar can be used to pry the lock apart. It also requires the lock to be cut in order for it to be ridden away. Occasionally, just a wheel will be stolen, but that requires a particularly brazen/quick thief, and is usually the result of the owner using a quick release (see #4).

4. Replace quick releases.
Most thefts are opportunistic thefts. Unless you have a titanium/kevlar seat and are really planning on removing your seat and front wheel every place you go, consider replacing quick releases with something that requires a tool. Quick release seat clamps can be easily replaced, and front hub quick releases can be swapped out for an allen key skewer, or the axle can be swapped for a solid axle.

5. Find a good bike rack.
Some bike racks are built better than others. In general, find a spot that allows you to support the frame (not just the wheel). Some old-school bike rack designs encouraged locking in such a way that the weight of the bike could "fold" a wheel. Avoid them. Ideally look for a bike rack that also protects your trusty steed from the elemnets.

For more info on bike rack design see:

6. Check the sign post clamp.
Sign posts are often the only convenient parking choice. The occasional entrepreneurial thief has been known to undo/loosen the post from it's clamp. Check that the clamp on the base has not been tampered with. The aluminum nut and bolt should be secure. Look for corrosion or the lack thereof.

7. Park in an obvious spot.
It is telling that the golden rule for bike rack positioning at a schools is to place it in front of the principal's office. A business looking to encourage cyclists as customers will place a bike rack with view of the front window, near a busy travel path - - - not around the side in a parking lot against a brick wall.

8. Consider something less "flashy".
A good commuter bike doesn't necessarily have to have disc brakes, shocks, a flashy paint job or other obviously expensive parts. Keep it simple and you will worry less. The truth is, if you leave it outside for long enough, a "professional" bike thief on a mission can dismantle individual bike parts, no matter what you do. Note: Using locktite. If you do have a fancy bike that you plan on leaving outside for lengths of time, you have some options. For those who are extremely diligent, and know a thing or two about mechanics, you may consider using a type of "Locktite" on those precious fancy parts. Doing so will require that heat be applied to the area when removing the parts in question. Note: this is an extreme length that most experienced bike commuters do not find necessary, and can cause some mechanical grief if the parts also happen to become corroded.

9. Register your Bike.
In the unlucky event that your bike is stolen, make sure you know your serial number and have it registered. Police use the bicycle registry to try and return recovered stolen bicycles to their owners. Those for whom they can't find owners are sold at auction. For more info on registering your bike click here.

More info:
http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/engineering/parking.cfm
http://www.ibike.org/engineering/parking.htm

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