Software Vault: The Gold Collection/Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO/cdr11/lockers.zip/LOCKERS.BIK

Internet Message Format | 1993-06-05 | 12KB

Path: orion.oac.uci.edu!ucivax!jarthur!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!zardoz.cpd.com!dhw68k!david
From: [e-mail] (David H. Wolfskill)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Summary of responses re: Bike locker vendor sought
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 10 May 91 19:09:05 GMT
References: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (David H. Wolfskill)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Wolfskill & Dowling residence; Anaheim, CA (USA)
Lines: 270

Many thanks to all who mailed or posted an interest in my quest for
information regarding bike locker vendors; I apologize for the delay in
posting this summary.

My colleague -- thanks to some of that information -- was able to locate
a sufficiently nearby vendor... one of the requirements of which I had
not been aware was that the vendor must be fairly close (to Orange
County, CA) -- to minimize shipping charges.  (I apologize for failing
to determine this issue before posting, and hope that some of the
information about other vendors may be of value to others.)

I figured it would be more useful for me to organize the information,
so I have done so -- at the expense of making an attempt to give credit
for the sources at the point the information is quoted.  (I include a
list of sources at the end of the article.)

First, I received a few pointers to one Ellen Fletcher, such as:

>For a comprehensive treatment of the bicycle parking subject,
>along with a list of vendors & prices, contact Ellen Fletcher
>at cdp![e-mail] (put "ATTN ELLEN" in your
>"To" line.

[I requested clarification regarding addressing a note to Ms. Fletcher,
but have yet to receive it.]

>... Ellen Fletcher, 777-108 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, CA
>94303-4826, 415-495-8943.

Fortunately, someone sent a list of products & manufacturers,
apparently originally compiled by Ms. Fletcher.  I have taken the
liberty of using that list as a "base document" and have augmented it
with other information I received; entries are alphabetically by
munufacturer's name, since I don't always have product names:

(Manufacturer, {Product Name(s)}, Address, Contact Person, Phone, FAX
    [comments])

American Bicycle Security Co., {BIKE SAFE}, PO Box 7359 Ventura, CA
    93006, Thomas E. Volk, 805-933-3688 & 800-BIKESAF, 805-933-1865.

Bike Lockers Company, {BikeLokr}, PO Box 445 W. Sacramento, CA 95691,,
    916-372-6620, 916-372-3616 [approx. $300/locker, small
    quantities].

Bike-Lokr Mfg. Co., {?}, PO Box 123, Joplin, MO 64802, Jim Snyder,
    417-673-1960/800-462-4049, 417-673-3642 [approx $450/locker,
    which holds 2 bikes; seem to be the lockers used by the
    Washington, DC Metro system]

Bike Security Racks Co., {?}, PO Box 371, Cambridge, MA 02140,,
    617-547-5755, -

Bike Stable Co., Inc., {?}, PO 1402, South Bend, Indiana 46624,,
    219-233-7060, -

Cycle Safe Inc., {Cycle Safe}, 31522 Wingate S.E. Kentwood, MI 49512,
    Richard Hartger, 616-949-0598, 616-698-6087.

Cycle-Safe Inc., {Cycle Safe}, 143 Ionai Ave NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan
    49503,, 616-459-4556, - [I don't know which Cycle Safe entry is
    correct.  I received a comment that "Cycle Safe's lockers are
    the nicest looking, but their minimum order is 100 lockers (you
    should call) since that are sort-of out of business."]

David O'Keefe Company, {Super Secure Bike Stor}, P.O. Box 4457, Alamo,
    CA 94507, Thomas & David O'Keefe, 415-637-4440, 415-837-6234.

General Machine company, {Bicycle Locker}, PO Box 405 Vacaville, CA 95696,
    Vitto Accardi, 707-446-2761, -

J.G.Wilson Corp, {Park'n'Lock Bike Garage}, PO Box 599, Norfolk, VA
    23501-0599, J.L.Bevan, 804-545-8341, 804-543-3249.

Sunshine U-LOK Corp., {Secura Bike Locker}, 31316 Via Colinas Suite 102,
    Westlake Village, CA 91362, Doug Devine, 818-707-0110.
    [Specific information near the end of the article -- dhw.]

Turtle Storage Ltd., {?}, P. O. Box 7359, Ventura, CA 93006,,, -


Then -- for those for whom the above is insufficient -- there is a list
of leads & indirect information (some of which are a bit unusual) -- and
the specific information about the Sunshine U-LOK "Secura Bike Locker"
(which is the only one my colleague investigated -- because of the
previously unspecified requirements mentioned at the beginning of this
article):

>BTW, the person I mentioned (Ellen Fletcher I think) published a pamphlet
>on the subject of bicycle parking.  It is worth buying (about $4).

>I have a couple of more (I'm getting them out of the Cyclist's Yellow
>Pages put out by BikeCentennial).

>Also, there is The Bicycle Parking Foundation, POB 7342,
>Philadelphia, PA, 19101 [phone].

>A Dallas zoning advisory committee discussed such lockers yesterday.
>Apparently they have a list of some dozen commercially available
>lockers, at costs from $500 to 900 (or so I hazily remember.)

>Years ago (late 1970s) My father had a subscription to _Planning_ magazine,
>a slick publication for city planners that had ads for all the latest trendy
>landscaping and building hardware supplies. Among the ads were some for
>bike lockers. That is all the info I have, but I hope it helps. I personally
>haven't seen bike lockers installed since the DC Metro ones appeared
>around 1978.

>    Um, no source, but I have seen these at a lot of schools, too --
>University of Arizona and Ventura Community College come to mind.

>I don't know who makes them, but if you happen to be at Fashion Island
>in Newport Beach [CA], there are some lockers in the lower level of the
>parking structure on the west side of Fashion Island near the
>Edwards Cinemas.  There are two sets of Edwards there - you want the
>ones in Fashion Island, near all the stores.

>I have seen the lockers in Palo Alto.  I think they were at the CalTrain
>station.  Perhaps that would help.

>Connie Vanentini (i think that's her name) at CalTrain
>(bay area train system) is responsible for the bike lockers
>up here.  the last time i spoke with her she told me that she would be
>buying more lockers for the various stations, at approx.$1000 apiece
>(one locker holds two bicycles)  other folks have confirmed the figure-
>her phone number is [phone] for her machine, and she will call
>back
>otherwise [phone] rings at her desk, but she always gets mad at
>me when i call her there.

>TRW at Redondo Beach [CA] has some bike lockers.  It looks to me like they
>are to be shared since they are about 3 feet wide, or so.  Anyway, there
>is a decal on the side which says [ref. to "Turtle Storage"]
>I don't have any other details, but you might be able to get more information
>from Commuter Services here at TRW, 213-813-4431.  There was no phone
>number on the decal.

>Transportation Alternatives is a mainly bicycling non-profit in New York
>City.  They have volunteers who will design bicycle storage areas, so
>they should have lots of information.  212 941-4600

>I have seen ads from them [Bike Lokr] in Bicycle USA (publication of
>the League of American Wheelmen) recently.

>I can't give a direct pointer, but I would start by calling the
>League of American Wheelmen (I don't have their number handy, but
>they're in the Maryland suburbs of DC) or your local bicycle advocacy
>group (Transportation Alternatives in New York  City might also be
>able to help.)

>The latest issue of the LAW newsletter had an ad for some of these
>from a company based in Maryland.  You can try calling or writing the
>League; their address is:

>League of American Wheelmen
>6707 Whitestone Road, Suite 209
>Baltimore, MD  21207

>League of American Wheelmen could probably provide leads.  Their number
>is 301 944 3399


Then there was this intriguing report:

>I recently read an article in a local (San Diego) biking mag that
>CalTrans would supply, and install, bike boxes at places of business.
>The business then could use the box for awhile, then either buy it,
>or CalTrans would deinstall it.  So, check with your local CalTrans
>office to see if they have a similar deal, and get the actual details.

[My colleague did, in fact, follow up on this.  The local (Orange
County) CalTrans folks didn't know anything about this.  Your mileage
may vary -- but I would be skeptical.]


...and this bit of advice:

>Make sure you place your bike lockers on a concrete pad.  The doors
>work best that way.


Naturally, there was considerable interest expressed overall -- so
those of you who may be interested in pursuing having your employers
obtain bike lockers may take heart in this -- you are *not* alone! --
and this note rather speaks for itself:

>I'm interested, partly because I was wondering if there was a
>business opportunity in what you describe.


Penultimately, here is the specific information on the Sunshine U-LOK
"Secura Bike Locker":

Each "unit" is a rectangular parallelpiped, measuring 74" x 45" x
39.25" (LxHxW), with a (slightly offset) diagonal "divider panel" so it
will hold 2 bikes -- and looks (when viewed from the top) like:

    _____________.__  _
   |            /   | ^
   |           /    | |
   |          /     | |
   |         /      | |       [No complaints about lack of artistry
   |        /       | |       in the drawing, OK?  Most of you wouldn't
   |       /        | 74"     *believe* what I'm using to do this...
   |      /         | |       I'll give you a hint -- when have you
   |     /          | |       you ever seen an IBM 3278-5 *scroll*
   |    /           | |       (other than when it's being used as a
   |   /            | v       "console")? dhw]
   |__._____________| _

   |  |<-- 31.25"-->|
  >|  |<-- 8"

Each unit weighs about 300 lbs.; construction is of 18 gauge galvanized
sheet metal; the door (the 31.25" construct in the above diagram) is 16
gauge.  The spec sheet claims that the door and end panels are
reinforced; the door has an anti-prying flange and a continuous hinge.
There is a flange on the bottom of the end and divider panels for
attachment to a concrete surface.

Apparently the "lockers are shipped in a knocked-down (KD) condition, to
be assembled on sight [sic] and painted as desired once assembly is
completed."

Continuing to quote, "Rugged dead bolt lock is key operated.  A padlock
hasp configuration is available."

Apparently individual units ("locker sections") "are connected with
sturdy nut & bolt hardware provided with each shipment."

The quoted price is $250 - $300 per bike (approx.); the price we are
paying seems to be $590.00 (+ $150.00 shipping)/unit.

I apologize for not having obtained comparable information for other
vendor's products... but it would make the article even longer....


Finally, I received information or expressions of interest from each of
the following -- thank you, one and all!

[e-mail]        Alex Matthews
[e-mail]            Bill Michel
[e-mail]        Bruno Bittner
[e-mail]    Barry Johnson
[e-mail]            Dan Romanchik
[e-mail]    John DeGood
[e-mail]        Dan Kerns
[e-mail]        Ed Ravin
[e-mail]    Ron Hidinger [? -- dhw]
[e-mail]    Mike Iglesias
[e-mail]        John Unruh
[e-mail]        Jo Friedman
[e-mail]            Karen des Jardins
[e-mail]        Chris Kent
[e-mail]        Ron Larson
[e-mail]            Linda Lee
[e-mail]        Steve Lusky
[e-mail]        David Olson [? -- dhw]
[e-mail]        Peter [surname unknown -- dhw]
[e-mail]        Maurice Suhre
[e-mail]        Theodore Rodriguez-Bell
[e-mail]    David Wittenberg
[e-mail]    Gordon Zaft

Many, many thanks to each of you,
david
--
David H. Wolfskill
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