St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation Bicycle Parking Demonstration Project Report

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation Crucial Elements for Bike Parking Design of racks themselves Location Installation If any of these elements is not right bicyclists will look for another place to lock up.

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation Design - A rack that cyclists will use: Provides two points of contact for the bike. Lends itself to locking both the bike frame and one wheel to the rack with a cable or with a standard U-lock. Has a simple design and obvious function. Has a smooth surface that will not chip or scratch the bike frame paint. Strongly resists attempts to break or cut it.

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation Other important factors: The rack needs to do exactly what it is intended to do - prevent bike theft. Think like a thief –Possible ways to break a rack or lock and steal a bike: Hack saw to cut the elements Use a car jack between rack elements and lock Bolt cutters on rack elements Torch Car bumper and chain to pull rack out of substrate Pry bars, hammers, two by fours, etc. to break rack elements

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation Installation Bike racks should be installed in solid concrete. They should be secured with six-inch long 1/2” bolts that have had a shot of epoxy put in the hole. Each foot should have at least three or four bolts. One bolt on each “foot” of the rack should be a rawl spike or similar concrete anchor. Alternatively racks with a cross piece on each foot can be embedded in concrete as it is poured. Racks should not be installed in asphalt or paving stones because they are too easy to pull out.

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

Less Desirable Rack Designs

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

Other Racks Bicycle racks lend themselves to a fairly wide range of design possibilities. Any design, whether production or custom/art, should conform to the standards that ensure security and usability.

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

Art Racks Bike racks that also function as art can work really well, but they present the need for careful consideration in that people may not know that they are meant as bike racks. All the criteria for bike racks mentioned in this report should be followed for art racks, as well. For a fascinating look at a wide variety of art rack designs visit the Louisville Downtown Management District at

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

Watch Your Bike series by artist, Phill Evans

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

Location Bicyclists will only use racks if they are comfortable with the location

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation Well-placed racks that bicyclists will use: Are close the entrance of the building they serve; 50’ or less in distance from the entrance is preferred. Are placed in high-visibility areas. Are located with sufficient room around them for people to get in and out. Do not obstruct doors and walkways. Follow zoning restrictions and provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Are located with input from cyclists.

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

Racks that will see less use or be otherwise problematic: Poorly considered locations

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

How to tell when you need more bike parking.

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

This project was made possible with assistance from: Missouri Department of Transportation East West Gateway Council of Governments, St. Louis, MO Federal Highways Administration David Tomlinson and the City of Toronto Ben Gomberg and the City of Chicago Chicagoland Bicycle Federation Barry Zalph and Bicycling for Louisville John Luton, E.D. - Capital Bike and Walk Society, Victoria, BC Dierdre Weinberg and the MTA Bicycle Program, San Francisco, CA Dennis Strawn, Mountain State Wheelers Bicycle Club, South Charleston, WV Martin Pion, Conservion, Ferguson, MO Thunderhead Alliance REI Gives William A. Kerr Foundation Individual donations to the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation