Bike Tree Locked Bicycle Storage
by on 03.16.05
We’re firm believers in the two wheels good, four wheels bad adage. But when we trip over bikes that are cluttering up the sidewalk, we’re not so sure, and when our bike gets stolen (again) we’re just mighty pissed off. Bike Tree (see extended post for another view) is a space efficient solution to the chain-it-up parking approach favored by so many municipalities. Rather than hitching your bike to a post at street level, swipe a smart card, enter your PIN, and your cycle is taken up the “trunk” of the tree to a dome that protects it from thieves and the elements. The tree’s footprint is minimal, which helps keep space open for pedestrians (and the dome shields them from rain, too). The system—first installed in Geneva—can also be configured as a bike rental kiosk. And just where does it get the energy to be whooshing bikes up and down? Solar power, baby. Thanks to Richard LaRue for the tip! ::Bike Tree [by KK]
that is WAY too cool!
i'd love to have one of those outside my apt, work, gym, etc etc etc.
heck if they made a portable version i'd take it with me =P
(that might be defeating the point though eh?)
while a great concept it does seem a little excessive (materials and space) for just ONE bike. However, it is a great start.
Why does it seem that North America is sorely lagging behind in the bicycle department? Oh how I long to move to Europe
Though the pictures show only one bike stored, Bike Tree will actually store multiple bikes (one in each of those little grooves). You can actually see a second one on its way up in the extended post photo. Cool, isn't it?
I think this is awesome. A few concerns though.
This looks expensive and a price isn't listed on their website, are you going to have to pay to park your bike?
I can maybe see colleges adopting this thing, but american municipalities generally won't spend money on anything unless they're sure it's worth it. I wonder how receptive a city like, oh, say Kansas City would be to investing in this.
Anyway, I just see it as an uphill battle in the US. I'm personally for anything that encourages people to leave their cars parked and use pedal power, but I there's a lot that needs to be done before a great bicycle parking system like this is going to be widely used.
I personally live in a town that is very bike-unfriendly, the roads are narrow and the drivers inconsiderate, and the city government really isn't concerned with changing any of that.
I still think its great though and would love to see one everywhere I go so that I could feel that my bike was safe.
I would love to see these in the US soon, but then again I have always been worried about the US transportational system and think it should be reevalutated.
I would love to see these in the US soon, but then again I have always been worried about the US transportational system and think it should be reevalutated.
thats a cool concept but what keeps the bike from falling and how would u fit those things in a city, doestn seem practical
bring them to Portland, Oregon.