BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

It could easily be bad habits from the days when we didn't have bike racks anywhere and had no choice but to find creative places to lock. If there is a real bike rack. You might just want to post something on the rail temporarily telling people not to lock to the rail. Some tape and a sharpie may go a long way to letting folks know that it's not cool to lock to the railings. See what they did in Oakland at the Victoria garage https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikepgh/5124086370/in/photostream/ If the rack is a good one, People should be using it. However, if it's a toaster rack, people may avoid it. Photo here shows people using a good rack, and ignoring the toaster rack which is hard to lock to securely. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikepgh/5123483285/in/photostream/

I can understand that, but blocking walks and stairs is just f'n stupid. The racks in Oakland are modern.(last summer installed by city) I know that right now, it's a matter of saying okay, hey, instead of locking my bike to this handrail, I see that down two blocks, or right across the street, there is a legitimate place to secure the bike. It's like with a cage, you park in certain areas, so people are going to have to get used to it. But doing what they do over my area, locking to the stairs, they are not too bright. I did see one place that had a small sticker sign, stating to not lock bikes up here, so I went out and got some paint and marked the rails with the message do not lock bikes here. By the way, it sounds like you were one of the ones who do lock their bikes to my rail, you seem to defend this crowd.

Totally reasonable request. This should be common sense. If you happen to speak to other property owners, however, make sure to ask that people install more racks. That will help prevent the sort of thing you describe. If people have any questions about the kind of racks to install, have them ask here, as there are WIDE DIFFERENCES IN THE FUNCTIONALITY OF RACKS. Sorry about the caps, but I need to stress that. All racks are not created equal. Lastly, the people in Oakland, i.e. students, unfortunately are unlikely to be reading this message board, so your posting, while welcome, is unlikely to have much impact toward correcting the situation. If you have not already asked the university to post something somewhere publicly, that might be more effective. But do what you gotta do.

I think you're taking umbrage inappropriately to Benzo's reasonable suggestions. And now I'm a bit confused about whether the rack is right next to the stairs, as you said in your first post, or across or two blocks down the street, as you said in your second?

jona, no I stated the rack is behind, and there is a rack(s) across the street, and there are racks at each corner. I was sorta messing with Benzo, kidding about his affiliation with , and if I offended him, sorry. Edmonds, As far as businesses installing bike racks, please note, that doing so, may not be permitted by their insurers. It would be considered a big liability for some, ie damages, for one thing. If sidewalk space is narrow, you sure can't put a bike rack there, and when the bikes do lock there, there is little room to get around.

Bike Pgh has a program of assisting businesses with the installation of racks which has been in place several years and numerous entities have taken advantage of, so it is done. See here; http://localhost/resources/bike-parking/#Request Also, Bike Pgh! - this might be a good time to update that particular page to advise that people not lock to trees, private property railings, block doors or walkways, and generally use common sense and be considerate of other members of the public. I'm not seeing something to that effect and I think it needs to be on there.

I chastised an aquaintence once for his cable lock.. He said, "It's a $40 bike." He had a point.

@lookout's concern is genuine, as we've in the past had regular board posters from Tree Pittsburgh and other places. I myself have worked with the blind community, and know that unexpected objects are a real problem. I'm not sure exactly how to get across to the average 19-year-old, who doesn't care for rules in the first place, that what they're doing is a real problem, not simply someone's seemingly arbitrary rule.

@lookout could contact Pitt, to encourage increased awareness for riders on campus, if he/she is so inclined to spread the word. My understanding was that Pitt gave out a handout during orientation specific to cycling/biking on campus during orientation. http://www.pts.pitt.edu/Commuting/bicycling/ "Do not park or store bicycles in residence halls or against plants, trees, parking meters, pipes, trash cans, or railings. Make sure your parked bike is clear of any access ramps or building entrances. A bicycle rack is the safest place for you to park your bike on campus. These racks are available at nearly every University building. Please use only one space." Pitt participates in Bike to Work Day and has on campus bicycle registration, I would assume they would be receptive to ideas to reduce conflicts with the increased number of riders on campus and in general.

I think distinctions can be made among: * uninformed - People who will do the right thing, if asked once, though they may have missed the earlier memo * careless - Might do the right thing next time, if asked; they were probably in a hurry and didn't try too hard to comply * thoughtless - Don't care what happens to other people, but might go along grudgingly next time * willful disrespect - Won't comply even if you ask nicely Concentrate on the first couple of those. That will cover the majority of cases. Zip-tying a sign to various objects should get the message across.

@look_out - No, I generally don't lock to railings like that. I'd prefer a real rack or a parking meter back in the day (no more meters now). Now that we have much better facilities, it's not that hard most of the time to find a proper bike rack in oakland unless they are full (which happens, but I see this more at places that draw large crowds like Stage AE). I'm Just trying to talk out the problem, not trying to say that's cool. Just trying to rationalize why folks might lock to stuff like your railings. I do really dislike when I see bikes locked to trees. Super bad for them. Too much wear over time is not good for them. Maybe Bike-Pgh can put a blurb about that in their commuter guide or on the print map when it's updated again. (Actually, there is a note in the commuter guide telling folks not to lock to trees) I think most people do it out of ignorance (but I don't have any numbers to back that up). Simple prompting like a sign can at least send a message to that crowd that it's not OK and maybe they will change their behavior like stu mentioned.

All of which reminds me, time to send another message to Lowes asking them to put some bike racks in. I mean, seriously, a movie theater next to a bike path. How hard is it?

But Jon, they DO have a bike rack! Admittedly, it's one pathetic hoop installed in such a way that you can't possibly fit two bikes on it at once, but hey!

Must be new. Where is it?

On the parking lot side, to the right of the main entrance, barely visible on Google Street View. It's pretty pathetic.

Thanks for that; I never enter that side. I'll definitely use it next time. That one sad little rack looks so lonely with its "Bicycle Parking" sign.

Don't have a picture of it at hand, but Mellon Institute also has a sign wrapped around the handrail to their wheelchair ramp saying 'do not look to this handrail' ... but they also invite people to use the bike room inside the building. stick and carrot.