YER’s Hoop bike rack is evolving to provide improve school bike parking
When we ask high school students why they don’t ride to school, an average of 25 per cent cite the risk of theft as a reason – the number is as high as 42 per cent at some schools.
Youth en Route has implemented many innovative solutions to give students more confidence that their wheels will be there at the end of the school day. It started with lock libraries and our education on how and where to lock. We’ve created a video and given out a ton of Bike Index stickers to students.
But we know that there are still hundreds of old “tire-bender racks” at schools. Designed in the 1950s to hold a bike upright, they don’t allow modern bikes, with wider forks, to be parked close enough to the rack to actually lock the frame.
We are working with principals and parents to help understand how to create secure bike parking to encourage riding. Recently, we had the pleasure of sharing all of our designs with the regular advocacy meeting of Velo-Canada Bikes with the idea of getting more of these updates done across the country.
First attempt: Single Hoop design
Our first design had hoops mounted to the top cross bar to provide two-points of contact to lean the bike. We added chains allowing students to use a padlock instead of toting around a heavy U-lock. But we realized the rack had some shortcomings. It wasn’t great at elementary schools because the handlebars on smaller bikes interfered with the hoops. It also wasn’t great for 29-inch framed bikes which didn’t fit at all.
While we did come up with a V-rest as a solution, it means lifting the bike over the rack to set it on the rest, which we covered with a pool noodle. However, this was not always easy or convenient.
YER board member Tim Schaefer is and engineer and problem solver. He tested out a range of designs and has come up with the most effective way to modify the rack. His Double-Hoop design allows easy locking for bikes of all sizes and shapes. It also allows for parking of 26 bikes when positioned to allow parking from both sides. While we haven’t built a prototype, we think installing the hoops on one side only would be a great option for spaces where the rack must be set close to a wall.
Take 2: Double Hoop design
“I was looking at some of the racks that you see around the city that are just semi-circles on the ground and was trying to merge that idea with the old wheel benders,” explains Schaefer.
“Having the hoops lower to the ground removes the conflicts with the handlebars and fits really any bike, except maybe a cargo bike. You don’t have to remove anything from the rack which keeps labour costs down.”
Keeping costs down was a priority.
Secure parking key to encouraging kids to cycle
Schaefer’s prototype racks can be found at the West Hillhurst Community Association, the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association and the Bow View Pool. Keith Simmons of Simmonswerks , who collaborated on the initial Single Hoop design, completed the fabrication of Schaefer’s designs.
The pair also took an old wheel-bender and stripped it down to the base. He then mounted hoops to create a simple, movable rack design that works for all bikes. We’re hoping that these designs will be used to update more racks at more schools, creating secure spaces where students feel comfortable leaving their wheels while in classes.
To inform schools, school boards, principals and parents to help them make the best choices for students, we’ve created a Guidebook for School Bike parking best practices. You can download it here.
New and improved design:
Double Hoop Rack Fabrication Drawings
First Design:
Single Hoop Rack Fabrication Drawings
