I appreciate the intent, but why add the need for electricity to a bike parking facility? And why limit access to only one bike at a time? The process of bike parking seems to have been complicated in such a way that the design add several elements that could easily go wrong and leave someone vehicle-less on their way home.

And, of course, there is also the issue of accomodating diversity. My bike with a trailer would probably not fit, nor would a trike, or tandem.

Sometimes simplicity is a good thing! How about starting with something simple and flexible in design, and add things only to solve common problems? Shelter from rain and snow is good. So is being in sight of a very public space (so lots of eyes are on the bikes, to discourage theft). I, personally love the simple and funky look of the "nununun" shaped ribbon racks. And they work fairly well, too. Maybe widen the spaces a bit to accomodate wider vehicles, add some attractive and easily maintained shelter, and stick it right in front of a well lit entryway, with a bit of a park next to it, and be done with it?

I'm glad there is someone working on making bikes more convenient for everyone. Too bad my electric bike weighs like 80lbs!

| bike parking problem

*ahem* What problem would that be?

Considering that a single car space costs upwards of $4k a year to exist and that bike parking with a stable is roughly a tenth the cost and a fifth the space - I wouldn't call bike parking a problem. I know, I am preaching to the choir here. But the phrasing is a little strange.

This is a neat design. Goes well with the bike tree concept I have seen on this blog.

I thought the thing with bikes was that they don't need lots of complicated crap.

If you want a radical proposal, how about this: take an existing downtown parking lot and convert it to a bike shed. Add affordable housing or whatever you want with the freed-up real estate. Unfortunately that's too radical a proposal for even the most up-to-date, "I-like-modern-design-because-it's-trendy-and-will-bring-tourists-to-this-boring-sellout-of-a-backwater" council.

Or something like that...

Way over complicated, a victim of "design", similar to victim of fashion. Contemplate out of shape people trying to lift their 45lb. big box department store bike while trying to keep the front wheel from flopping so that they could hook it on the hook.
The Griffith Park Observatory recently reopened after an extensive restoration. Guess what? No bike parking. They hastily installed some bike racks behind the bathrooms, a perfect place to get your bike stolen. The rack itself is the kind the front wheel goes in to. There is no way to lock a bike properly in this kind of rack.
Also, a skinny wheel is very unstable in this kind of rack. If the bike flops sideways it could the bend or break the wheel and/or damage the rest of the bike. Even if you manage it the next person parking a bike may knock your bike and cause it to flop.
You could put the back wheel in but if your bike has fenders and/or a rear rack, forget it.
You must now make a reservation for the shuttle, up to 30 days in advance. But you can only make a reservation 48hrs. in advance if you don't take the shuttle.
That is, if you walk or ride your bike it's 48hrs vs. 30 days. They can't charge admission to the park because it's in the park charter but they can charge 8 bucks for the shuttle.