Parking products that don't work well
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On paper bike parking products can appear very similar: in use they can be quite different.
Human behaviour
We visited an inner Melbourne workplace to discover that a popular style of rack can be awkward to use, is inefficient with space, can cause the bike to be damaged and is hard to lock up to (see Fig 1.1 & 1.2 PDF 58K). Furthermore, many of the same riders use this facility every workday, yet the bikes are parked in a disorderly way. Riders do not intuitively know where and how to park their bike.
Ground mounted leaning rails provide good useability, security and capacity. (see Fig 1.3 PDF 38k). Riders intuitively know how to park their bike. So many of the problems discussed below do not eventuate.
Poor products compromise useability
Parking products need to be easy to use. Bikes can be difficult to get in and out, especially when the handlebars can touch those of a bike three spaces away, and some flat-bar handlebars will significantly overlap those of a bike two spaces away . In these situations gear, brake and computer cables can become tangled with brake levers and bar-ends of adjacent bikes.
As you can see, the first bike in has been ‘trapped’ by the handlebars of locked adjacent bikes. The first bike may then need to be disentangled from adjacent bikes and the handlebars lifted over the top of the adjacent handlebars. This can be awkward and potentially damage bikes and accessories.
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Pic 1: The front bike will be hard to get out.
To get a clear picture of this style of bike parking, imagine a car door so long it hits another car two spaces away when you open it, and having to drive in and out of your car space with the doors open.
Economical use of space means handlebars will overlap, however riders need room to park and exit their bike parking space without undue interference from adjacent bikes.
Poor products compromise security
Poor products compromise capacity
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Pic 2: Three spaces away and handlebars nearly overlap