Hard News: A Stand for Quaxing
108 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 Newer→ Last
-
Given the paucity of bike-stands, and thus having never seen a multitude of bikes parked anywhere, I saw that Utrecht image and thought "How on earth would I ever find my bike again in that!"
-
I have to give some props to Wellington City Council's Cycle Advisors who helped us get publicly funded bike stands in the Miramar shopping centre (including some right next to our restaurant) when we opened La Boca Loca. I'm not sure if other suburban businesses know they can ask for this, but if they don't I recommend it. It's a great service and our local stands are all used every day.
-
Sounds like a job for Bike Grey Lynn https://www.facebook.com/bikegreylynn/ – identify every location in your ’burb where a bike stand would make sense, stick it on a map and let Auckland Transport know.
We did this at Bike Devonport https://www.facebook.com/groups/bikedevonport and to their credit Auckland Transport have done quite a few, Here’s our complete wish list https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z7PrlYcPLzrY.kQnfC_jNap7k&usp=sharing
AT added some stands to Whites Dairy (biggest ice creams in Auckland) – this would work for that blank wall at Westmere Butchery
-
I'm with you on developing infrastructure to encourage cycling as transport (versus leisure or sport - which I don't have an opinion on). Little details like secure parking in public places would make a significant difference.
My initial thought was that you were expressing n=1 thinking; how many other people do a grocery shop on a pushbike? But, with the increase in nipping into the shop for tonight's meal rather than loading up with wagon with every provision to cater for the family's journey through the next week - it might well be that folk _would_ use bikes for local tasks if it wasn't a drama. And that would be a good thing.
-
The photo from the Netherlands reminded me - hardly anyone LOCKS their bike there - and many of them had this neat box in front for wayward toddlers and shopping - not tied down or helmeted or anything - they just sit there and let Mum push - and she can - safe in the knowledge that she won't be mown down. In Tokyo you could leave your bike leaning outside any shop or cafe unlocked all day and it would be fine (but of course they also provide beautifully maintained, practical bike stands too) I think part of your problem is the fact you have to continually LOCK it up- even just to run into Fruit World??? Crickey.
-
Yes we saw similar double height bike stands crowded around train stations in Zurich earlier this year. Very impressive.
My answer to the countdown Grey Lynn problem would be don't shop there. It's rubbish on other levels too - expensive, too many toys on pillars, poorly organised, Aussie owned...
I'm not sure if New World has any bike stands either but that wee dishrack as you say, is an insult.
-
In your first picture I first thought they were asking you to chain your bike to the pole with the sign on it. Then I saw the stands...
In my London Borough, we are the proud recipients of mini-Holland funding for bike friendliness and have seen the installation of all kinds of bike stands and street lockers for bikes, with more still to come. Consultations for our area of the Borough are underway - nothing on the scale of the Utrecht picture (hence the mini in mini-Holland) - and the screams of outrage at the alleged difficulties for car drivers is doing my head in. Little bit of reading here - the free cycle training workshops are brilliant, and so are the Dr Bike sessions for maintenance.
More about the scheme and possibly some ideas? -
Patrick Morgan, in reply to
Good to hear Marianne. I had an enquiry from Newtown's Baobab cafe this morning. Will pass this along.
-
Great post, Russell! It's the little things, eh.
I noticed during the recent consultation on the redesign of our local Pt Chev "village green" that the new proposed design takes away the well-used and very sturdy racks outside the library in favour of installing a ramp, but offers no obvious replacement for bike parking.
I'm hoping there's a brilliant solution in the works for that; the long blank wall of the pharmacy would be an excellent spot for a line of sheltered bike racks. (As seen in this pic of the random pair of roadside bike racks, which are almost never used, and which took quite a beating from a runaway car earlier this year... )
-
It's 3 km to our local supermarket. When we set out with a backpack to do some shopping our friends who were staying over nearly fell over with amazement. "You can't walk that far?" For serious loads we use the bike trailer. Too much weight on your back while cycling is uncomfortable and dangerous. And we NEVER cycle in the door zone (another cyclist wiped out recently on Tamaki Drive). And while I have the floor - I think it should be illegal for cyclists to cycle in the door zone. https://kmccready.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/cyclings-death-zone-legislate-against-fools/
-
I just stick a little padlock through my disk brake. Stops anyone from riding off.
Sure, anyone could pick it up and put it in a van, but it isn't that great a bike to start with.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
I noticed during the recent consultation on the redesign of our local Pt Chev “village green” that the new proposed design takes away the well-used and very sturdy racks outside the library in favour of installing a ramp, but offers no obvious replacement for bike parking.
That's a shame – although at least there are plenty of poles around. As you say, that spot under the eaves would be ideal.
-
Jolisa, in reply to
And here are the sturdy bike racks that will disappear in the revamp, with my quaxing bike attached for scale (OK, and for mild bragging purposes).
-
Christchurch has a variety of bike stands, everything from fully enclosed & locked cycle storage areas (mostly for workplaces like the hospital & university) to the dodgy low-profile useless things like your Countdown photo. Things are slow going around the central city - many times I've biked to a new pub & found the only place to lock up is the chain link fence of the building site next door.
My workplace is shifting to the central city next year, and we're still waiting to find out if the landlord will provide more than 22 bike parks in the basement. ~400 health board staff, plus the staff for the retail/hospitality spaces downstairs, in an area with restricted carparking, and you only provide space for 22 bikes? We'd fill that now, and more people will bike once we relocate.
-
This is the definitive visual aid for convincing shops to add bike parking, by the way: from the awesome Bike Te Atatu crew (pic by Simon Vincent, additions by Carol Green). It's gone viral worldwide :-)
-
Jolisa, in reply to
at least there are plenty of poles around.
I secretly love it when people lock bikes to the poles that hold the "No Parking" signs!
-
Looking at me these days you may find it hard to believe that I was quite the cyclist in London. For several years I navigated the monstrous traffic in that city, up hill and down dale I would commute to building sites and other jobs, ride to the pub and ticky tour the unusual places forbidden to “normal” vehicular traffic, a blissful life you may think.
The biggest problem I encountered in the UK was the ubiquitous London thug, who on seeing a bike would toss it down the nearest railway embankment or in the nearest creek or canal, if you had the audacity to lock your bike up it would be bent beyond repair out of frustration and sheer anger at not being able to engage in the art of bicycle tossing.
I did try to do the same when I arrived in Auckland, only to discover that Auckland motorists seem to have the attitude that cyclists are the scourge of the road and do their damnedest to eliminate as many as they can, I gave up and joined the mongrel mob of motorists, without the genocidal motive I must add.
Amsterdam, on the other hand, was cyclist heaven, free bikes, little traffic. It still has the canals but they seem to have a different purpose there. There were other delight too, cafés to die for, if not in and cycling after coffee, cake and a nice little shmoke made the whole experience a delightful and intrepid journey.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
t’s 3 km to our local supermarket. When we set out with a backpack to do some shopping our friends who were staying over nearly fell over with amazement. “You can’t walk that far?” For serious loads we use the bike trailer.
I usually manage with one pannier – two for the big jobs, but one holds a hell of a lot. I think my record for one bag included a two-litre bottle of milk, a six-pack of beer, a chicken and sundry other items.
Too much weight on your back while cycling is uncomfortable and dangerous.
Yeah, it's a bad idea.
And we NEVER cycle in the door zone (another cyclist wiped out recently on Tamaki Drive). And while I have the floor – I think it should be illegal for cyclists to cycle in the door zone.
I'm not sure that helps a lot. I naturally avoid door zones, but I'll proceed with caution where necessary. Bike Grey Lynn has noted the problem along the side of Western Springs Park. If I'm not feeling attentive, I'll toodle along the footpath or the tramline. I think the trick is to not ride at speed where there's risk.
-
Quaxing? Oh, I see.
I'm proud of it. But should I be? Bertrand Russell extolled the bike's simplicity.
"I got on my bike and rode away. And with that, my first marriage came to an end."
Quaxing?
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
I secretly love it when people lock bikes to the poles that hold the “No Parking” signs!
<LIKE>
-
BenWilson, in reply to
The bike parking at UoA is very good. Not only lots of proper racks all over the place, but a swipe carded video monitored cage for the especially paranoid. Not that I use it, I'm content to just lock the frame and helmet up, and leave it at that.
Out in general public, I almost always lock it directly outside wherever I'm going, usually to a lamp post or road sign or pillar or rubbish bin. I think the greatest security comes from it being in a public place with many eyes. Outside a supermarket it's best if it's near the door. Same with a mall.
No one has ever bugged me about it being in their way or inappropriately parked. Not ever.
-
Jolisa, in reply to
News from London: if you build it, you might have to double it sooner than you expected, because they will come... in droves!
This is London's busiest bike track, apparently, positively bulging at the seams. Quite encouraging stuff.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
The biggest problem I encountered in the UK was the ubiquitous London thug, who on seeing a bike would toss it down the nearest railway embankment or in the nearest creek or canal, if you had the audacity to lock your bike up it would be bent beyond repair out of frustration and sheer anger at not being able to engage in the art of bicycle tossing.
I rode a lot when I lived in London in the late 80s. It was literally faster than driving – not that I had a car. There were a lot of slow and stationary cars to whizz past, and only the odd terrifying Elephant and Castle roundabout.
Certain parts of the city now boast stands full of "Boris Bikes" (as with many good works attributed to the mayor, the credit actually lies elsewhere). But in some ways, it seemed dicier to me when I visited late last year – there's so much construction and construction means trucks. But the Cycle Superhighways now under construction look awesome.
I did try to do the same when I arrived in Auckland, only to discover that Auckland motorists seem to have the attitude that cyclists are the scourge of the road and do their damnedest to eliminate as many as they can, I gave up and joined the mongrel mob of motorists, without the genocidal motive I must add.
Amsterdam, on the other hand, was cyclist heaven, free bikes, little traffic. It still has the canals but they seem to have a different purpose there. There were other delight too, cafés to die for, if not in and cycling after coffee, cake and a nice little shmoke made the whole experience a delightful and intrepid journey.
I wish I'd discovered the joys of cycling Amsterdam sooner. It is, as you say, a lovely experience.
-
If I’m not feeling attentive, I’ll toodle along the footpath or the tramline.
Eventually, months after my crash, someone rang back from AT. Nice enough about it. But nothing's changed down there. I go extra distance to avoid the entire area.
-
If they put a Bike rack at Countdown it would get in the way of the gauntlet of sausage sizzles, buskers and charity collectors you have to run to enter the building. :-)
A bike rack at the Garnet Rd shops would be great but I think it would be better across the road from the butchers near the dairy/glengarrys. (or 2 stands, 1 on each side of the road). A lot of bikes get laid on the ground or lent up against the shop windows on that side. The cafes are a destination in the weekend for MAMILs.
Slight pedantry, that Countdown is Countdown Richmond Rd, Williamson Ave is Countdown Grey Lynn which presumably will go once Vinegar Lane opens?
Post your response…
This topic is closed.