I live up in La Jolla, and the bike racks are these awful wheelbender things that you can't lock to properly, if even they exist. If I want to harass various businesses about what a bad first impression this makes to their customers, are there any programs to get a rack I can refer them to? Or does the SDCBC or some such have an organized program to help harass businesses? Etc.

La Jolla businesses have to follow the City of San Diego municipal code, which says
(e) Bicycle Facilities
(1) The minimum number of required bicycle parking spaces is two.
(2) The maximum number of required bicycle parking spaces is 25. These
spaces can be accommodated with racks for 25 bicycle spaces or racks
for 12 spaces and 12 bicycle lockers if lockers are also required.
(3) The following uses are exempt from the bicycle facilities requirement:
Cemeteries, mausoleums, crematories;
Maintenance and repair uses;
Boarding kennels;
Pet grooming services;
Veterinary clinics and hospitals;
Vehicle and vehicular equipment sales and service uses; and
Mining and extractive industries

the whole code is here

It requires a certain amount of bike parking, usually .1 bike parking spots per 1000 square feet of retail or commercial space. So if you have a 100,000 foot store, you have to provide 10 bike parking spots

The trick might be to get them to get decent racks. There's no program in the city that I know of that gives private businesses racks. I'd love it if the BID's could help - great idea, Sky! There supposedly are the public blue bike racks that can be installed in the public right of way by the city (usually on the sidewalk). Beryl from the El Cajon Blvd Association can share her stories of frustration on how LONG it is taking to get them installed. They've been waiting a couple of years at least. *sigh*

You might be able to encourage them if they knew how cheap decent racks really are. An 'inverted U' rack that can hold two bikes is $99 plus shipping from Dero - http://www.dero.com/products/hoop_rack/hoop_rack.html All they have to do is bolt it down.

We don't really have an organized effort to reach out to businesses. We usually handle it on a business by business basis. The first step is really just to talk to the business owner and tell them nicely that you would really like to see better bike parking. They're probably not thinking about bike parking at all - 'hey, we're doing great - we have a rack, don't we?' If they need more help or resources, we'd be happy to help them figure it out - they can find us at www.sdcbc.org

On that topic, what's San Diego law on locking your bike to random crap on the sidewalk?

xmedic:My office is in Mission Valley ( Camino Del Rio South ) which is a terrible road lacking a sidewalk and bike lanes which I ride everyday...
The big problem is the lack of bike racks around any of the buildings in the area, I currently lock up to a sign.
I would like to finally address this problem with the building manager ( not friendly ) and would like to know if there any regulation on my side before I approach him/them.
Gee, if we had bike racks we could offer the sdbikecommuter discount...

There are bike parking requirements in the City of San Diego's municipal code, but that doesn't mean an owner of an existing building can be forced to add bike parking facilities. If you are parking for the legnth of your work day, you should be asking for a bike locker or other higher-security parking than a bike rack outside. If the building management is unsympathetic, you might as well ask for what you want. You just might get something better than youhave now, which is nothing.

Kathy:La Jolla businesses have to follow the City of San Diego municipal code, which says
(

Any other cities in the county have these type codes?

Stephan:There are bike parking requirements in the City of San Diego's municipal code, but that doesn't mean an owner of an existing building can be forced to add bike parking facilities.

How does that work, then, Stephan - do the parking requirements only apply to new construction? Just trying to figure out what a property owner / developer can be held accountable for.

Does anyone have a friend with a metal shop? I would like to get a quote on a simple hoop-style plate to install on parking meters and poles myself. I would use U bolts and one-way nuts so there wouldn't be permanent damage etc... Has anyone else had similar ideas?

With no rack in sight it's time for guerrilla bike parking.
:face-devil-grin:

I go to Babbo Grande on occasion (restaurant on University near Centre St), no racks nearby. I lock it to a tree, but it really isn't a good spot at all. That whole block could use something.

Signs of things to come :face-angel:

Ride your bike to downtown Santa Monica Ice and park your bike for free!! Check out the newly installed temporary bike corral at 5th and Arizona!

Lock'em up or tie'em up (from Rainbow Kitchen Natural Foods Market in Ojai,CA)

San Diego's first bike corral on 5th and University. Thanks to BikeSD for the good news :face-angel:

Please be sure to send your thank you letters, phone calls and other love notes to:

Tom Landre – TLandre (at) sandiego.gov, phone: (619) 533-3045

Councilman Todd Gloria – toddgloria (at) sandiego.gov, phone: (619) 236-6633

Went to the bank today...



...when I came out there were five more bikes.

One of the custom logo bike racks installed last year at Hamilton's Tavern in South Park. I actually watched a guy from Arboriform installing these one Saturday last April, as seen on my bike commuter blog.
Great to be able to stop in for a beer without locking up to a tree!

I actually saw a few of us and our bikes on the news last night too, kinda funny. I hope the other 3 planned get put in soon. A step in the right direction for sure.

Is your bike having a bad hair day? Fear not! Introducing the comb rack.

This rad rack lives in Roanoke, Virginia.

There is a new bike corral soon to open on Louisiana St just north of Howard Ave. I walked by there earlier and the only thing missing appears to be the "BIKE PARKING" sign.

The trouble is, there aren't many businesses along El Cajon Blvd there that would necessitate such a parking spot. It is adjacent to the Lafayette Hotel, but that is about it. I really see it as a waste, two blocks over at Alabama would be better, as there are many times I see many bicycles parked adjacent to the bar and pizza place there.

sd_mike:The trouble is, there aren't many businesses along El Cajon Blvd there that would necessitate such a parking spot. It is adjacent to the Lafayette Hotel, but that is about it. I really see it as a waste, two blocks over at Alabama would be better, as there are many times I see many bicycles parked adjacent to the bar and pizza place there.

Sam and I checked it out today. I agree. Weird place off of the actual ECB. Not sure I am comfortable leaving my bike that far off the beaten path no matter how well it is locked.

Blue Fin Tuna?
(Street Art ... Ha! I like it.)

The ups and downs of unprotected parking in the street.


Whew!!! The second shot was taken from the spot I had my bike parked, minutes before (in first photo).

^^ http://sf.streetsblog.org/2012/07/16/driver-plows-through-bike-corral-at-duboce-and-valencia-injuring-man/

srvienna:^^ http://sf.streetsblog.org/2012/07/16/driver-plows-through-bike-corral-at-duboce-and-valencia-injuring-man/

This isn’t the first time Zeitgeist has had a bike corral ruined by a driver. Their previous, smaller corral on the Valencia side of the corner was also wrecked last year.

Ribbon cutting at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (9/6); I'm trying to get my ducks in a row to be there.