North Portland tiki bar goes for Easter Island themed bike parking

Bike parking at The Alibi on N. Interstate. The racks were designed and fabricated by Matt Cartwright of Cartwright Design.
(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…

bike parking at The Alibi-3

bike parking at The Alibi-2

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.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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dan
dan
13 years ago

Very nicely done! Who’s the artist? Surely PDOT doesn’t install art racks, does it?

Will Radik
13 years ago

That person looks a little young to be patronizing The Alibi. ; D

Mark
Mark
13 years ago
Reply to  Will Radik

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.

Duncan Idaho-Stop
Duncan Idaho-Stop
13 years ago

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.

Adams Carroll (News Intern)

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.

Duncan Idaho-Stop
Duncan Idaho-Stop
13 years ago

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?

RH
RH
13 years ago

Yes you can. Those racks get used all the time too…

abby
abby
13 years ago

Have you seen the whisk rack outside the new Saint Cupcake at SW 12 and Morrison? Quite adorable.

Jon
Jon
13 years ago

i wonder when michael’s italian sausage will get a bike rack shaped like a hot dog out front for their favorite customers 🙂 ?

Jay
Jay
13 years ago
Reply to  Jon

ROFL

Alex
Alex
13 years ago
Reply to  Jon

Racks for adult novelty stores?

Tim Davis
Tim Davis
13 years ago

Hilarious! That would draw in more customers! 🙂