Comments on: You’re in the jungle baby, and you’re gonna lock up your bike http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/ The Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture Tue, 15 May 2012 00:59:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: elliott http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1923 elliott Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:48:23 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1923 Art is in the eye of the beholder so there are always going to be critics. That's the risk but I think the reward outweighs the risk. Otherwise all our public spaces will look like Soviet era, soulless blocks. Art is in the eye of the beholder so there are always going to be critics. That’s the risk but I think the reward outweighs the risk. Otherwise all our public spaces will look like Soviet era, soulless blocks.

]]> By: D'Amico http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1920 D'Amico Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:56:33 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1920 Cripes....Lighten up. This is something different, unique, and it highlights a connection between the arts and bicycling. Form should take precedence over functionality in these cases. It's not like we're going to have an onslaught of public art bike parking any time again....so embrace and move on. The only thing that I think needs to be decided is where to put them?? Cripes….Lighten up. This is something different, unique, and it highlights a connection between the arts and bicycling. Form should take precedence over functionality in these cases. It’s not like we’re going to have an onslaught of public art bike parking any time again….so embrace and move on. The only thing that I think needs to be decided is where to put them??

]]> By: chris http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1901 chris Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:09:46 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1901 Sure, street aesthetics and bicycle transportation are important, but settling for something that doesn't work that well for the sake of having *something* to show is a compromise that doesn't sit right with me. I like the idea, I like the enthusiasm and the intent, but the product is lacking, in my opinion. The are a minimal number of bikes you can actually lock to these, and they don't offer a substantial increase in bicycle parking unless you install a really significant number - which is unlikely. So why push so hard? Just so we can point and say, "Look, we're doing something!"? Surely there are some more intrepid souls out there with untapped ideas on bicycle parking infrastructure that is both functional and pleasing to the eye. Sure, street aesthetics and bicycle transportation are important, but settling for something that doesn’t work that well for the sake of having *something* to show is a compromise that doesn’t sit right with me.

I like the idea, I like the enthusiasm and the intent, but the product is lacking, in my opinion. The are a minimal number of bikes you can actually lock to these, and they don’t offer a substantial increase in bicycle parking unless you install a really significant number – which is unlikely. So why push so hard? Just so we can point and say, “Look, we’re doing something!”?

Surely there are some more intrepid souls out there with untapped ideas on bicycle parking infrastructure that is both functional and pleasing to the eye.

]]> By: marcus http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1898 marcus Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:38:55 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1898 It's a secret, but the blades of grass design actually has a specifically cut rectangular section out of each blade for a lock to slide through. I disagree that this is ludicrous. I think this is an important statement about the importance of both street aesthetics and bicycle transportation. It’s a secret, but the blades of grass design actually has a specifically cut rectangular section out of each blade for a lock to slide through.

I disagree that this is ludicrous. I think this is an important statement about the importance of both street aesthetics and bicycle transportation.

]]> By: chris http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1897 chris Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:30:28 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1897 While it's all very well and good to try and incorporate aesthetics into bike parking, it seems ridiculous to sacrifice usability in order to do so. It's obvious these designers are not frequent bicyclists, or they might have thought a little harder on the logistics of actually locking a bike up. How are you going to fit a U-lock around those blades of grass? And what use is having a ten foot structure if you can only lock your bike up to the lower third of it? The reason the current upside-down U is so prevalent is because it's compact and you can easily move your bike around in order to find the most secure position for locking. Making them prettier is certainly a nice thought, but you can fit more bikes more securely on those than you can on any of these suggestions. It seems ludicrous to move forward on such a flawed design concept. While it’s all very well and good to try and incorporate aesthetics into bike parking, it seems ridiculous to sacrifice usability in order to do so. It’s obvious these designers are not frequent bicyclists, or they might have thought a little harder on the logistics of actually locking a bike up.

How are you going to fit a U-lock around those blades of grass? And what use is having a ten foot structure if you can only lock your bike up to the lower third of it?

The reason the current upside-down U is so prevalent is because it’s compact and you can easily move your bike around in order to find the most secure position for locking. Making them prettier is certainly a nice thought, but you can fit more bikes more securely on those than you can on any of these suggestions. It seems ludicrous to move forward on such a flawed design concept.

]]> By: marcus http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1895 marcus Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:00:29 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1895 Well I suppose if they're an invasive plant to avoid then maybe people won't jack my bike when it's parked to a facsimile of one! Well I suppose if they’re an invasive plant to avoid then maybe people won’t jack my bike when it’s parked to a facsimile of one!

]]> By: Joe http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1894 Joe Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:53:36 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1894 Re: stem rack Elephant ears are not just non-native as you point out, but also an "invasive plant to avoid" according to the city of austin. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/invasive.htm Re: stem rack
Elephant ears are not just non-native as you point out, but also an “invasive plant to avoid” according to the city of austin.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/invasive.htm

]]> By: marcus http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1892 marcus Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:57:13 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1892 I would guess perhaps for maintenance issues? Not sure actually. I agree with your sentiment there. However, maybe it's just an argument for even more durable paint jobs on our bikes, 'cause there's never any guarantee you'll even be able to park at a bike rack, much less one that was rubberized (if there were any). I would guess perhaps for maintenance issues? Not sure actually. I agree with your sentiment there. However, maybe it’s just an argument for even more durable paint jobs on our bikes, ’cause there’s never any guarantee you’ll even be able to park at a bike rack, much less one that was rubberized (if there were any).

]]> By: Dave http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/02/20/youre-in-the-jungle-baby-and-youre-gonna-lock-up-your-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1891 Dave Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:54:32 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=3994#comment-1891 They're all pretty cool, but one thing has always bothered me about bike racks. If you have a non-kickstand bike, why would you want to scrape your paint against a bare metal bike rack? Why can't they be rubberized? Nobody would accept car parking where you had to rub your car against a metal pole. If you're really careful you can make contact with the saddle, cranks or handlebar, but it seems inevitably you slip and there's another scrape. They’re all pretty cool, but one thing has always bothered me about bike racks. If you have a non-kickstand bike, why would you want to scrape your paint against a bare metal bike rack? Why can’t they be rubberized? Nobody would accept car parking where you had to rub your car against a metal pole. If you’re really careful you can make contact with the saddle, cranks or handlebar, but it seems inevitably you slip and there’s another scrape.

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