(Photos © J. Maus)
The only thing I like better than prominent bike parking at businesses, is when it also manages to be aesthetically interesting. When bike parking attracts the eye, it not only makes people on bikes feel welcome, it plants the seed for people who didn’t show up by bike to consider doing so next time.
One set of racks that accomplishes this quite well are the new art racks at The Alibi on N. Interstate Avenue. The racks were made by local metal fabricator Matt Cartwright of Cartwright Design (he also did the bike sculptures on the roof of River City Bicycles, among other things).
The Alibi is a Polynesian-themed tiki bar and the new racks are inspired by the Moai figures on Easter Island. For a bit of added flair, someone recently added leis around the necks of the faces…
The Alibi is just one of many local businesses that offers artistic bike parking, which is a big win-win because it serves a functional purpose and adds a marketing flair. If you own a local business and want to install an art rack, the City of Portland has a website and a step-by-step guide for making it happen.
Thanks for reading.
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Very nicely done! Who’s the artist? Surely PDOT doesn’t install art racks, does it?
That person looks a little young to be patronizing The Alibi. ; D
Actually Will, if you look closely at the sign, the Alibi is a full service restaurant that includes a bar. Anyone, regardless of age, can eat in the restaurant.
Do you get to North Portland much? You should.
I was just wrangling with the stupid round bike racks at Deschutes in the Pearl, thinking to myself “Business owners who don’t bicycle in town should consult a bicyclist before installing a pretty but impossible-to-use bike rack.”
This is a case in point.
I hear you and that can be a problem sometimes. I’d hope biz owners would use some basic design parameters to make sure the racks actually work. In this case, I was easily able to roll my bike up and lock up.
Glad to hear it, maybe I shouldn’t be so cranky… Can two or more bikes lock easily to one statue like they can with staple racks?
Yes you can. Those racks get used all the time too…
Have you seen the whisk rack outside the new Saint Cupcake at SW 12 and Morrison? Quite adorable.
i wonder when michael’s italian sausage will get a bike rack shaped like a hot dog out front for their favorite customers 🙂 ?
ROFL
Racks for adult novelty stores?
Hilarious! That would draw in more customers! 🙂