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Bike racks: such a simple thing that can truly change how a community functions. However, even if you implement bike racks in your local community, you may find that cyclists are ignoring them – and you're left wondering why.
Contrary to what you might think, cyclists aren’t ignoring bike racks just to be difficult. Rather, chances are the design and placement haven’t been optimized to make using the bike rack easy and accessible. It’s a far more complex issue than you’d imagine.
Today, Classic Displays will discuss everything you need to consider when making bike racks accessible to prevent cyclists from ignoring them. We’ll also offer some practical solutions to the problems we’ll be exploring today.
Over 811,000 Canadians commuted by active transportation (walking or cycling) in 2021. Of those, nearly 139,000 hopped on their bikes, down from 222,130 in 2016.
Much of the decrease can be explained by a major shift in working arrangements, including higher rates of telework, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the pandemic behind us and cities becoming more accessible, it’s reasonable to assume having access to bike racks could make traversing the community easier.
It’s very important that your bike racks are placed in accessible areas that don’t interfere with public sidewalks and parking places. If you’re seeing cyclists whizzing by and ignoring your bike racks completely, there’s a good chance that they could be inaccessible to the average cyclist. That’s without even considering those with physical limitations who rely on cycling as a means of transportation.
OK – we’ve explored the problem. Now, it’s time to come up with some solutions and product suggestions. Keep in mind that we’re exploring possible solutions based on our research – you can tailor these suggestions to meet your unique needs.
Make sure bike racks are installed near building entrances and popular locations, such as businesses, to eliminate the need for cyclists to park and walk long distances. Bike racks placed in desirable locations are going to be far more appealing to cyclists than those that have been haphazardly placed. Keep the cyclists' needs and convenience in mind.
Install bike racks in well-lit, open areas where they can easily be seen and accessed. If you tuck bike racks away with the expectation that you'll be saving space or increasing convenience, you may find that cyclists will simply wheel on by.
Make sure you place bike racks in areas where they're less likely to be blocked by parked cars, landscaping, or other possible obstructions. A bike rack isn't easy to use when there are literal obstacles in the way.
Make sure that when you make the move to install bike racks, you're installing enough to meet the needs of the service area. This is particularly important for high-traffic locations. Lack of capacity can send cyclists wheeling right on by in search of a place to park.
Make sure you choose bike racks that can accommodate different styles of bikes. This ranges from e-bikes to cargo bikes, and bikes with child seats. Classic Designs has multiple options to choose from that we will speckle throughout this post!
Our Hanger Bike Rack, for example, is a higher-capacity design that provides lots of space and accessibility. Our Modular Bike Corral is also an excellent option.
Sometimes, the main issue you may be facing as to why cyclists are ignoring your bike racks is the design you’ve chosen doesn’t work with the area they’ve been placed. If you have a large, clunkier design stuck in a compact area, cyclists aren’t going to use it. As well, if you have a more singular design that holds only a single capacity in a high-traffic area – cyclists are going to end up parking elsewhere, or not at all. That’s bad for business.
You need to balance design, accessibility, and security to make sure your bike racks are optimized for the public. Keeping some key design elements and security measures in mind will make sure cyclists are more likely to take advantage of the bike racks you’ve provided for the community.
Not only do you need to make sure bike racks are accessible, but you also need to make sure they’re designed to be sturdy. That means choosing options such as galvanized steel to prevent possible theft or damage. Strong, sturdy bike racks are more reliable than their cheaper counterparts and make cyclists more confident in using them.
Bikes being stolen is a major point of contention for cyclists. You need to ensure that racks allow the frame and at least one wheel to be completely secured with a U-lock. This makes it less likely for bikes to be pinched off the street. Also, keep the racks visible areas to deter theft.
Choose a bike rack that sits at a comfortable height to make sure there’s no excessive need to bend over. This is especially important for people with physical limitations, such as older patrons or those with disabilities.
Choose materials that aren’t prone to rusting and try to weather-proof bike racks as necessary. This could include building a weather-resistant shelter around the bike racks to not only limit the potential for damage but also protect the bikes and cyclists from the elements.
You can always have several bike rack options to create a more versatile space. This could include having freestanding bike racks and wall-mounted options to provide a variety of options to accommodate several cyclists and bike models.
Our H40 Bike Rack is an excellent choice for a single, freestanding design, as well as our City Style Bike Ring.
There are a lot of options available to modernize the way people interact with bike racks. If you live in a busy city, having modern options that make riding around and parking simple encourages cyclists to get on the road and out into the community.
Adequate spacing between bike racks to prevent accidents, proximity to desirable facilities such as businesses and parks, and access to bike trails all make for more comfortable bike rides. Comfort and ease of access make cycling around the community less intimidating.
Make sure your bike rack locations have clear signage so the public knows where to find them. Clear signage shows cyclists where it’s safe for them to park and get a quick rest while enjoying the rest of the community.
Curious about what features local cyclists are actually looking for? Ask them! Try developing and sending out a survey to the community to get their feedback on what they want/need to feel safe and comfortable riding around. You can also try a pilot program to test different bike rack options to see what works best for your community.
You can include additional features such as bike parking apps that can update cyclists on rack availability in real-time. You can also integrate smart locking technology into your bike racks.
You know what everyone likes? When things look pretty. Choosing a nice design that suits the location and community. You can choose between a variety of different bike racks that feature everything from unique, modular designs to different colours.
Our Ergo Bike Rack is angular and stylish while also coming in a variety of colours. Our Triangle Bike Rack is also a very attractive option.
If you’re looking to make your community more bike-friendly, Classic Displays has options to suit your needs. We offer a variety of site furniture that is artfully designed to make your community more accessible, cleaner, and even more beautiful than it was before. We specialize in beautifying public spaces and have been doing so for more than 46 years – you could say that we’re resident experts!
We have everything from flags and banners, holiday lights and decor, site furniture, and more. We now serve more than 350+ municipalities, 150+ BIA groups, and countless commercial properties across North America. We serve everyone from small communities, shopping centres, office tower lobbies, hotels, airports, and even large-scale events.
If you want to make your community more bike-accessible today, don’t hesitate to contact us to see what options we have available. We have a wide variety of bike rack options that will make your local streets easier to traverse for cyclists.
We also have additional resources if you have any additional questions about what we offer. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Happy bike travels! Stay safe out there and keep your eyes on the road.
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