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City Rack, a bike rack with the lock built-in
The conceptual City Rack by designers Ilya Tkach and Nikita Gutsalenko has a lock built-in so your can secure your bike — rather than having to chain it up to whatever fence or post you find. It looks like several City Racks can be placed side-by-side, and that they work with a payment system, just like a car meter (though probably not with a time limit). The ring-shaped design of the City Rack's lock allows you to shore up your bike from many different angles, so you can snag the frame and whichever tire you like.
Still, posts and fences have their advantages. For one, they're free. Plus, you can also use the lock you feel comfortable with. But let's say you lost your lock or left it at home, then maybe a post in the city you can depend on would be a peace of mind. Check out the gallery below for more of the City Rack.
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Via Tuvie
By CoolProducts at 5:25 PM ON 10/17/08
I really like this idea and could definitely see something like this being introduced onto campuses and city streets. I live in Lawrence, Kansas which is home to KU and many of the commuters in the town use bikes. I love the idea.
By glass of cold water at 6:53 PM ON 10/17/08
not a bad concept, public bike locks. I am not sure it works that well though what is to stop someone from putting in their quarter and taking your bike, unless it is, a key system which it appears like it would be, however in my city homeless people would by the keys and try to sell them for more than the asking price.
Not sure it pans out in real life.
By Enzer Milliard at 7:28 PM ON 10/17/08
I don't ride a bike, considering I can walk anywhere I need to at the moment, but this seems like it would be an awesome idea, though it probably wouldn't go over well with a key idea, it might be a better idea to do it this way: you put the money in then set your own lock code, when you remove the bike by putting in the lock code again another person can come by and do the same, it would also be convenient if there was a remote station that could unlock them at will (like if there's an abandoned bike, or if someone locks it and leaves just for jokes)
of course as with everything public, it's likely going to get vandalized quickly, and possible unusable.
By Joe the Plumber at 1:53 AM ON 10/18/08
Hey, I could use one of those in my business!
By Ant at 3:41 AM ON 10/19/08
What about thieves with tool kits?
By bry3cpo at 9:23 PM ON 10/19/08
Terrible idea. Any public lock system I've seen has always ended up failing and no one around to service. Now if you just use it as a place to lock your bike to then fine. No one in this country really looks at the long term maintenance and function of these, "ideas".
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bry3cpo:
Terrible idea. Any public lock system I've seen has always ended up failing and no one around to service. Now if ...More »