Despite my reservations about the real utility of bike lanes here and in other cities, I think it is fair to assume that they are constructed with an interest in encouraging people to ride bikes to their jobs and other destinations.  But what happens once the cyclist arrives at that destination?  Where do we lock up our trusty steeds?  A light post or a parking meter would work, I suppose, though a bike rack would be nicer.  And what if all the parking meters are taken?     

Monday night, I was waiting for Rob prior to the hockey game at VerizonCenter.  So there I was, waiting in the new pedestrian walkway between Gallery Place and Verizon Center where, in the space of about 15 minutes no less than 3 pairs of individuals attempted to lock their bikes up to whatever they could find – that’s 6 bikes in all! – and each one of them were informed by the security guard that locking up their bikes is expressly forbidden.  I was amused when I observed a bike messenger locking up his fixed gear to a pole behind the back of the security guard even while he was giving one couple his standard speech. 

I don’t blame the security guard – he’s just doing his job, and The Man’s told him to impose this stupid rule.  But with all this encouraging of bike riding, isn’t it time for facilities such as this to provide something so obvious as a bike rack?  There’s really no excuse for this outrage – the new pedestrian walkway has plenty of space, and a few parked bikes simply will not get in the way.  Direct action is clearly needed here!

-- posted by Chris (photo from Flickr, Octavio_DC)