Bike parking

The data on the dotbike flickr site isn’t definitive or does it really mean much except we’re woefully short of bike racks. The city has a program http://www.cityofboston.gov/bikes/parking.asp and there is a request form, but the current 250 bike rack goal is pretty minimal. With 41 photos of parked bikes on the flickr site, 9 were of bikes on installed racks. Often they were in distress or over crowded and the idea is that there could be more at any of the sites. One interesting thing is that 7 of the photos had bikes taken inside. The most popular locking sites are street signs/light posts and fences which showed 9 bikes a piece. Trees were the least popular, but when they were used they were either the only alternative or the closest one. I know for myself I hate using trees compared to street sign posts or light posts. Light posts aren’t good for folks with U-locks though. Most comments I’ve heard are against the cities wimpy lollypop racks. Most like the U racks with multiple options. The singles are secured to the ground with bolts that can be undone pretty easily. The other issue is that if a business doesn’t want a rack the City doesn’t give them one. The city owns the side walk, so if there are enough requests by riders to heck with the property owner I say. What do you think about bike parking in Boston?

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