New idea for cycle storage

[HJ]

According to to-days copy of The Herald the Velo-K bicycle storage system is about to revolutionise cycle commuting. Looks like an interesting design but I don't see it taking off anytime soon, probably too expensive...

I do like the statement

"It's an expensive piece of kit," he said, "so the idea is to have advertising boards on them to allow the customer to get a return on their investment over time. It is worthwhile though - if you've got a structure that's purpose-built for cycling it sends out a message that cycling is a serious alternative to taking the car."

Ah well we can all dream...

 

[HJ]

Well now yous ken which one won...

 

[grhm]

Look like a good idea - but I'm always suspisious of racks that require the bike to be stored vertically. He susgests it can be used to encourage cycling to work - both of my commuter bikes have full mudguards and storing them vertically would mean standing them on the mudguards.

The pdf seems to suggest the bike are 100% vertical, but doesn't show what (if anything) is stoppping the back wheel rolling away.

He also says it'll occupy a single parking space, but I think you'll need space either side to access it too - so prably three parking spaces. I think I prefer the covered sheffield stands we have at work - some look like an Anderson shelter, openning at one end and stands down both sides, taked up same space as 3 parking spaces.

 

[Arch]

Yes, I wonder about the vertical bit. Apart from anything else, lifting my winter hack to vertical (even assuming it didn't foul the mudguards) would be a bit of a struggle for me. And will it fit all shapes and sizes of bike - folders, shoppers, recumbents. Almost certainly not a trike, upright or recumbent. I know most bikes are 'normal', but the beauty of a plain old Sheffield stand is that you can lock anything to it. And fit several in a car park space...

 

[Amanda P]

And it's a pawl, for goodness sake, not a "pall".

"Velo-K is a vertical storage unit, designed to be sold in twos with one bike staggered
higher than the other, can accommodate a wide range of bicycles and forms (e.g. those
with retrofitted baskets or panniers). Research identified that the most comfortable way to
park a bike is from a standing position so the cyclist would roll their bike into a groove,
helping to channel and balance the bike, and prevent horizontal movement of the wheels
when the lock is fixed into position. When the bike is at an angle of 65° a lip in the groove
prevents it from rolling backwards, allowing the user to let go of the bike and pull down
the locking harness. This consists of a ratchet and pall based system. The pall is controlled
by a key which can be either fixed or removable. If fixed, a D-lock can be used to lock the
whole system. The product’s design uses as few components as possible, creating a
stronger structure, reducing manufacturing tooling costs and increasing ease of assembly.
8mm thick sheet aluminium forms the main structure, chosen for its durability, corrosion
resistant properties and modern city aesthetic."

 

[HJ]

There are more pictures of it here, although it claims to accommodate panniers, it is notable that none of the bikes shown has either mudguards or a pannier rack. Has bonj had an influence on the design??

 

[HJ]

The more I look at the design, the more I get the feeling that no of the judges on the panel were cycle commuters, otherwise they would have spotted the short comings of the design. Either way I still like the symbolism of having these stands sited on existing car parking bays as a means of communicating society’s respect for pedal power...

 

[mickle]

It's pish.

 

[Amanda P]

Much of the structure seems to be cast aluminium: it may look swish, but it's bound to cost a small fortune.

There's nothing basically wrong with a sheffield stand, and I suspect you could buy an awful lot of those for the cost of one Velo K.

I agree, though, that putting bike stands in place of car parking spaces is a good idea. (Although the person who lives in Strensall and likes to park on the pavement so close to the sheffield stands outside the library that no-one can use them might not agree...)

 

[grhm]

Looking at the links provided by HJ above, I too am convinced that the judges cannot have been cycle commuters.

I lean the front two-thirds of my bike against the sheffield stand to remove my panniers without dropping the bike. Not sure how you'd do that with this design - resting the front wheel in the bit meant to hold the back wheel? Doesn't sound too stable or ideal.

Plus, I'd have concerns over the height of the bit you got to reach up and pull down - it wouldn't be suitable for children (not an issue is it's only for use at workplaces) but you might find some smaller women (and blokes) would struggle.

We have up to around 30 cycles parked outside my building (in good weather) - there are at least two electric assist bikes - one of which I believe is used my a gent with restricted mobility - he too would be usable to use this stylised bike shed.

I'm not sold - they'd be better off designing asthetic coverings for sheffield stands.

 

[mickle]

As someone who trained as an industrial designer I can assure yous that the competition wasn't about the best cycle storage farcility, it was about who was the best 'industrial designer'. Designed by and judged by people who don't ride bikes. Style over substance. As ever. Utter pish.

 

[garrilla]

There should be a law against Student Design competetions making into the media as 'the future of x'

Better still lets just make a law against students.

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm inclined to agree with Mickle. The problem with this design is less immediate than some here have suggested. The sideways leverage that can be put on the hinge is enormous, and the doors will either tear off, or not unite with the lock if they are bashed or wrenched. That's a basic design flaw that any engineer should spot.

And, yes, it would take three parking spaces, which is not neccessarily a bad thing, but two standard covered Broxap shelters would fit in to the same three spaces if the access was via the centre space, and they'd cost a great deal less and accommodate more bikes.

 

[Haitch]

Used something very similar in Brisbane last summer. Not only was it difficult to put the bike in (my 13 year old son couldn't manage it) but when I took it out again, the bike rolled backwards taking me by surprise. It would only take a couple of goes to get used to it, but I thought at the time how badly designed it was.

 

[grhm]

And, yes, it would take three parking spaces, which is not neccessarily a bad thing, but two standard covered Broxap shelters would fit in to the same three spaces if the access was via the centre space, and they'd cost a great deal less and accommodate more bikes.

Yep, thats the sort of thing I was thinking of. The Broxap Waredale Compound looks like it would take the same space and be a much more usable and long-lived option.