Toronto’s post-and-ring bike racks are “vulnerable”
Posted on August 22, 2006
Filed Under bike racks, bikes, elsewhere
Editorial: Repair the bike locks
The Toronto Star
Aug. 21, 2006. 01:00 AMToronto is a city of bicyclists, who strive to save the air and the roads while adroitly dodging motorists and ever-rising gas and parking prices.
So it is disconcerting to learn those ubiquitous post and ring bike stands that have dotted the city for 20 years are vulnerable to breaking with a simple two-by-four piece of lumber.
Eight cases of attacks on the stands by lumber-wielding thieves have been confirmed and another six are under investigation,
Even red-faced city biking officials have had to admit after conducting their own destructive attacks that the $200 stands are “vulnerable.”
City officials are looking at ways to strengthen or modify the 16,000 bike lock-ups, but warn that all the options are relatively expensive.
Individual cyclists can thwart thieves by using two hefty locks and the techniques on how best to use them that are outlined in a 20-page city booklet. But that is a confusing and costly alternative.
What should be done is that the city spend the money to fix the stands.
In a city where an estimated 7,000 bikes are stolen every year, the price is a good investment.
News and video from Martino’s Bike Lane Diary.
TCC Ring Post Sub-committee on VimeoDurham will be installing new city-owned bike racks later this year. I’m glad we chose not to go with the post-and-ring design, even if they are more aesthetically interesting that upside-down U’s.
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