Bike Rack Considerations for NEIU
 
The purpose here is not to criticize the past practices regarding bike rack installations at NEIU but to point out some shortcomings and to provide some insight into any future bike racks that might be installed. 
 
Basically, the racks at Northeastern are too small – they’re not wide enough.

“Wave” bike rack
The racks at NEIU measure 26 inches “peak-to-peak.”  The above pictured rack ideally should lock 9 bike: 1 each inside each peak or trough and 1 on each end of the rack.
 
This allows 13-inches per bike, the width or thickness of the bar leaves slightly over a 10-inch width into which to place a bicycle properly.

The narrow width at NEIU doesn’t permit the pedals to fit through the slots

However, given the width limitations there are further considerations:
 
1. Bicycles would all need to be “road” or “racing” type bikes, with “ram’s horn” handlebars so as to be the narrowest configuration possible.
 
2. Bikes would need to be parked alternately, each adjacent bike facing the opposite direction from the next.
 
3. Racks installed in-line would need enough separation to leave space for TWO bikes between the racks; 52-inch separation minimum between the racks.  Additionally, no other obstruction should be nearby.

4. Panniers or rear carriers will take additional room, eliminating this small rack as being practical.
 
 Regarding #1: A quick survey on any given day shows a myriad of bicycle types ridden to Northeastern.  There are comfort bikes, mountain bikes, bikes with wide-spaced handlebars.  See the picture below and note the handlebar variation.
 
In addition, since this is a commuter school, many of the bikes ridden to campus have panniers or rear carriers attached to facilitate carrying books and schoolwork to and from school.

Only a few bikes meet this extremely narrow profile requirement to fit these racks. Note the different carriers and racks and the different handlebar styles

Regarding #2: In some cases, this may require signs or education.  However, in most cases the bike racks are positions such that alternate back-and-forth parking is impossible. 


Rack by the PE Building, elimating entry from both sides.


Rack by the E-Building, eliminating entry from both sides.


The racks near the Student Union are listed has having two  11-bike racks; because of their placement the use of the ends aren't possible, reducing the theoretical number of bikes that can be parked.


Although the racks under the shelter by the PE building allow access from both sides, the rack cannot be used to it's full capacity because of the placement of the upright supports.


The result of all of this is too many bikes trying to crowd into spaces for which the racks were never intended.

          
The right way (left) and the wrong way (right) to park a bike in "wave-style" bike racks.

On paper, this type of bike rack must have sounded good: many bikes taking up the smallest footprint possible.  If the same rationale were to be used in the parking lot we could accommodate more cars simply by reducing the parking space width by several feet, and wouldn’t have needed to have built a multi-story parking garage.


The paucity of parking spaces for bikes results in alternative locking arrangements.



Other types of racks should be considered for future installations.

This rack has 30-inches peak-to-peak, allows for 12.5 inches per bike space.


This rack has 42-inches peak-to-peak, and allows for 17.5 inches per bike space.

"Staple Racks" are another option. These racks, designed to hold two bikes (one on each side) can be mounted in a variety of configurations.  These are used by the City of Chicago.


Another type of rack that might be considered: These could be mounted along the walls under the covering alongside several buildings: the north entrance to the Classroom Building, the west side of the B-Building and others.  They take up no space on the ground, require minimum installations, and shelter the bikes from the rain and snow.


This type of rack should be avoided.  It’s prone to damaging the wheels by lateral twisting, the force of which a bicycle wheel isn’t built to handle.  Notice also that the display picture shows road bikes only with narrow handlebars, suggesting that many bikes can be parked in close proximity, when a mix of different types of bikes cannot.

Prepared by Robert Kastigar
R-Kastigar@neiu.edu
Member, NEIU College of Cycling
October 15th, 2007