Parking space reserved for bikes

[Signal]

This is a new one for me. A parallel parking space on 4th St is reserved for bikes. This is very recent, this was made in June. It used to be motorcycle parking.

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94611454@N02/sets/72157634457695224/

[citrus]

There are a number of these in San Francisco. Here's one in front of a bike shop.

[sp_redelectric]

Portland, Oregon is installing them all over the place.

[Pete from Boston]

Portland, Oregon is installing them all over the place.

Somerville, MA is full of them.

[deathtopumpkins]

Portland, Oregon is installing them all over the place.

Somerville, MA is full of them.

And Boston's begun adding a few as well.

[Duke87]

Hey, bikers gotta park their bikes somewhere.

It makes more sense to put these on or beyond the sidewalk if there is space available (in this particular location there is not), since then you avoid taking away parking space for cars. Of course, I wouldn't put it past some of the people who are responsible for these things going in to have taking space away from cars as an implicit additional goal...

[NE2]

holy crap Orlando
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2011/07/28/the-bike-corral-is-installed/

[Brandon]

This is a new one for me. A parallel parking space on 4th St is reserved for bikes. This is very recent, this was made in June. It used to be motorcycle parking.

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94611454@N02/sets/72157634457695224/

I can see that.  There's no real room anywhere else for a decent bicycle rack.

There are a number of these in San Francisco. Here's one in front of a bike shop.

Would've been better, IMHO, to use the area on the sidewalk between the two planters.  It's useless for pedestrians and would've provided more safety for bicycle parking.

holy crap Orlando
http://commuteorlando.com/wordpress/2011/07/28/the-bike-corral-is-installed/

I think the park across the street would've been a better place for this.  Off the street, and under the shade trees (keep the bicycle seats cooler).  Plus it's off the street and safer than what is installed.

[corco]

Of course, a bike parking space serves a lot more people than a car parking space- that's capacity for ten people right there instead of what usually ends up being one.

[froggie]

It makes more sense to put these on or beyond the sidewalk if there is space available (in this particular location there is not), since then you avoid taking away parking space for cars.

I disagree.  For starters, by taking sidewalk space, especially on sidewalks that are not very wide or that are busy, you're taking up space for pedestrians.  Second, as corco noted, you can fit MULTIPLE bicycles in the same space that a single car would fit in.

Third, there are situations where taking an on-street space would benefit cars as well.  There's one example in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, VA where the space taken is on a corner in front of a busy coffee shop.  It's a net-win for all modes.  Bike parking.  Doesn't take away sidewalk space.  And, by putting it on the corner, it improves visibility/sight-distance for everybody, including cars, at that intersection.  A parked car blocks visibility much more than bicycles would, which is especially important for drivers on the side street with a stop sign trying to spot an opening to pull out.

[Brandon]

^^ I can definitely see taking the last 30 feet before an intersection and making it into bicycle/motorcycle parking.  It's useless for car/truck parking for the reasons you mention, Froggie, but perfect for these as for those same reasons you mention.  Very much a win-win for everyone.