Urban bike rack in Montreal

This is a post I've been meaning to put up for some time now, but I think I was saving it for a special occasion - well, that time is now. Thanks to A. Watson for a very artsy submission, straight from Canada, eh? (Couldn't resist.)

She found this masterpiece in Montreal (as it so eloquently says on the bike rack itself), which combines my two of my all-time favorite things - fun, colorful graffiti and, you guessed it, bike rack.

Because this is Canadian, I think there might be something lost in translation. Is this is a squirrel that's chirping? Is it a cartoon bubble expressing his preference of moves in Tic-Tac-Toe? Either way, it brings some color and joie de vivre to otherwise homely gray steel.

Which brings us to the next question - is this bike rack guarding the tiny little bush from further harm? (I mean, you have to squint a bit to see it, but the green shrub is back there.) Does it need two pieces? Is there a rogue army of gardeners prowling Montreal in search of unnecessary pruning?

Anyway. For bringing us such stellar compositions of urban life in a sort-of foreign land: FOUR bicycles out of four.

Joyful advance people and bike rack. (Or snow fence.)

Today's post doesn't so much feature bike rack as the main attraction, but serves as an accent for advance people enjoying the moment.

To the left is my very dear, darling Z. Javaid, who is celebrating not only a very large, very perfectly framed flag (god help us, but that's a whole other blog just waiting to happen) but a successful trip in Las Vegas. Framing her perfectly timed jump is some all-American bike rack.

Next up is A. Evans and J. Quinn, and while no bike rack is in this photo, they are frolicking through Cleveland, Ohio, happy as clams (if clams could skip, hold hands, and wear clothing). Pretty awesome. I am including it here not only because I find this shot to be full of happiness and life, but also because the hint of snow fence (a distant cousin of bike rack) really adds a shot of color.

For happy shiny Advance people holding haaaands....FOUR bicycles out of four.

Getting fancier in Chicago

Today's quick bike rack nugget is from N. Cohen, with a side of guest star H. Johnson (well, her foot anyway). She spotted this fancy bike rack in north Chicago, down by the river.

Bike rack, hanging out, by its onesies. Why? What for? Why is it so pretty? Who knows? Who cares!

Bike rack: Getting fancier every day.

For fancy bike rack with, as Nora points out, Democratic-themed Toms on, THREE bicycles out of four. Next time, we want to see Houston in there!

Loads of bike rack in Charlotte

And I do mean, LOADS. North Carolina, you are so lucky.

My dear and lovely R. Fitzgerald spotted this gem for me at the post-Democratic National Convention this past month. So. Much. Bike rack! I feel like this is probably the party game most applicable to me. (Instead of jelly beans in a jar, "Guess how many pieces of bike rack are on this flatbed; the closest guess is the winner!")

To be fair, J. Dach (who has to be in the top 5 contributors to this site by far) knew that miles of bike rack were needed to pull off a successful event. In fact, he even sent me an article about how much bike rack was necessary. Whoa.

And, while this bike rack also belongs in my previous article about super-tall bike rack, this iteration was also spotted in Charlotte flanked by D. Gifford, who just barely stands taller than the gray steel.

For a towering load of bike rack that literally stands taller than the rest (other than the Giff) - THREE bicycles out of four.

Bike rack, Seattle style

In honor of my love of the Pacific Northwest and R. Lee's birthday, today I am featuring the lovely scenic bike rack he spotted in Seattle recently.

I have to say, this is an interesting development. Never have I seen bike rack joined up with a bench to create all-purpose barricade. It's as if it's just a continuation of the bench. Or is it a continuation of the bike rack? Who knows. Who cares?

I'm guessing this bike rack was meant to keep people OUT of the fountain, which is kind of a dumb premise to begin with. And fairly unsuccessful as there is a KID in the pool (hence the red arrow, he's a little hard to see here).

Ralph mentions there's a sign on the bike rack - which states, clearly - "do not drive on the fountain." Um, okay, we'll try not to do that?

And, of course, the "b-side" of the fountain. Thanks man! Way to deliver.

For giving us oddly placed and totally useless bike rack - unless, you know, it really DID prevent people from driving over the fountain (again, ?!?!) - THREE bicycles out of four. 

Tall bike rack spotted...well, just about everywhere

I haven't done a themed bike rack post in a while, and finally it got to critical mass - apparently tall bike rack is out there, and my dear eagle-eyed readers have been noticing. Well, here's a round-up of some crazy large bike rack!

First up is another J. Dach special, spotted at Soldier's Field in Chicago - super duper tall bike rack! It practically resembles a door, and serves as such for this stairway. Good luck getting through that when it's locked into place.



The next is from P. Bauer, who spotted this iteration in Chicago as well (what's up, tall bike rack Chicago) - here at Wrigley Field right outside Pat's ridiculously baller apartment. (Side note - who has a SEGWAY in their apartment? Pat and Jack, that's who.)




OK. As as a delicious finale, here's one featuring the very lovely D. Barnes in her BRATW debut, as photographed by the equally lovely J. Quinn. And no, folks, this piece is from Milwaukee, which is also in the Midwest...is it because the folks from the heartland tend to be taller and thus, the bike rack matches as such? Are the bikes bigger? Or are the obstacles just larger? So many questions. So little time. All I know for sure is that D has some killer pants on. Oh yes grrrrrl.

Tall bike rack. Coming to a town near you, if that town happens to be in the Midwest.

Because I like my bike rack to be tall, grey and handsome (don't read into this too much, folks) - THREE bicycles out of four.

Baller bike rack in Oakland

Of course the shiniest, most pimped out bike rack would come not only from Oakland, California (I would do a North Bay hand-pump represent-thing here if I weren't, you know, SOCAL 4 LYFE) but also from R. Montoya, who is kind of a big deal as well.

I've never even seen gold bike rack before. Either this was a subtle shout-out to the Olympics this year and America dominating the medal count (USA USA USA etc) (I think) or someone got upset with C3PO and recycled him into something more useful.

And, in a stellar example of using bike rack to really, really block off a crowd, the Giff sent in another Oakland pic. Pretty awesome. I don't really envy the person who has to dismantle all of that (there has to be at least a few hundred zip-ties holding this puppy together) but I admire their handiwork. Hats off to you, bike rack constructor, you.

For crazy bike rack configurations and allowing me to finally, FINALLY insert a Star Wars reference in this blog, FOUR bicycles out of four. "Hella" nice work, NorCal dudes.