Sunday, February 16, 2014

Enjoy Cycling With LED Bike Lights



Staying Safe While Cycling Using LED Bike Lights

All cyclists know how important LED bike lights are at night. They provide practical safety benefits, while also giving cyclists the ability to see where they're going in the dark. Cycling is experiencing a real boost in the UK at present, riding the wave of recent sporting successes. If you've been motivated to start peddling as a result of the UK's golden summer, it's important to ensure you have the correct equipment, and understand how to keep yourself safe when out on Britain's roads and trails.

The Recent Cycling Boom

As Bradley Wiggins rode down the Champs to win the 2012 Tour de France, few could have predicted the impact it would have on the nation. When that unprecedented success was followed by a stream of British gold medal just day later in the London velodrome, the nation was hooked by cycling. A report compiled by British Cycling highlights what they call the 'Cycling Effect,' which has seen a dramatic increase in bicycle sales and led to an uptake in participation across the country. The report showed that the summer games had a tangible effect on how motivated individuals felt to get out and ride. A survey before the Games found that 20% said they were motivated to cycle. Once the games had concluded, 52% responded to the same question positively.

Buying LED Bike Lights and Other Accessories

If you're new to the world of road cycling, you're probably keen to stock up on all the appropriate kit and goodies. One of the great things about cycling is that it can be as cheap or expensive as you care to make it. If you're going to be racing, spending big will help you shave seconds off your time trialing results. If you're simply riding for fun, or to get fit, you don't need to spend too much on your set up. Some basic cycling clothes will be useful if you're going to be riding regularly, as they will help you maintain a balanced temperature. Purchasing a cycle computer can also make your rides more fun, as you'll have access to information about the speeds and distances you've travelled. A good quality helmet will protect you should you fall, and wearing reflective clothing is always sensible to increase visibility. A quality set of LED bike lights is also a good idea, as they will keep you safe, and help you find your way home if the darkness descends while you're out.

Since 1991 Park a Bike has represented every bikecorrals, Bike Parking Corrals and bike shelter company in the country. With a vast amount of knowledge gained from experience in this industry and from other businesses owned by Bauer, Park a Bike continues its vertical integration from being a distributor to a manufacturer with its own signature product line that adds simplicity, value, and environmentally safe products.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Bike Friendly Campuses



One of Park-a-Bike's missions is to become known as a premier provider of bicyclefriendly campus solutions. Our team has been fortunate enough to visit numerous colleges across the country. On our journey, we have come across a number of best practices, key findings, and many velo friendly opportunities. 

We have identified 4 major problems that campuses are experiencing today: 

  •  Deteriorating bicycle parking infrastructures
  •  Lack of available funds to improve it
  •  Resources to properly manage it
  •  The lack of "value" to the students

Park-a-Bike has a closed loop solution to all 4 of the above problems. We are currently piloting our program with over 20 colleges across the U.S. We have created the first Smart Rack - Smart Solution plan. The Varsity Bike Dock is only a small part of it. If you want more information or need a demo for your college contact us.

In this section, we are going to get you information. We will show you pictures, testimonials and more about the failures and successes of the campus scene.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Benefits of Getting a Cycle Shelter for Your Cycles



If you have more than 2 cycles at home then you must get a cycle shelter for your house. Even if you have only one cycle at home it is still worth installing cycle storage place for your cycle because it protects your cycle and keeps it safe. It keeps the cycle safe not only from thieves but also from harsh weather. Cycle shelters are designed in such a way that they do not occupy a lot of place but they accommodate more than a dozen bicycles. They are strong and sturdy and the best ones are made from galvanized steel.

There are many benefits of using cycle shelters. Firstly, they encourage people to use and purchase bikes and it discourages them to use their cars. In places such as supermarkets, hospitals, schools, offices and other public places there are better chances of installing shelters for bicycles. Moreover, it also helps to de clutter the road and reduces the traffic. If there are more shelter for cycles then all the cycles will be kept in one place in an orderly manner and they will not be parked just anywhere on the road. This will give more space to cars.

If more bicycles are used then the number of cars on the road will go down and so will the level of pollution in the air. Along with this benefit we also get the benefit of reducing the number of accidents. Less number of cars on a free road will lead to less or no accidents. Hence building or installing cycle shelters has more than one benefit. It is also cost effective. A parking lot for cars will not only take up a lot of space but will also need a lot of money and resource but on the other hand a cycle storage place does not need money and resources.

There are innumerable benefits of installing cycle shelters in homes as well as in public spaces. One such benefit is on the health of the person. If there are more shelters for bicycles then it will encourage people to use their bicycles more often and the more we use the more is the exercise to our body. It will help them to remain healthy if they ride their cycles to run errands or to go to public spaces. A healthy life is the key to wealth and success.

When you are planning to get a shelter for your cycle make sure you buy the best and the one made from the strongest metal. You should also approach a reliable and a known dealer when you are buying material for cycle shelters. Some also offer installation services. However, it can also be installed easily with the help of a screwdriver and a couple screws. All you have to do is follow the manual step by step. To know more about building and buying shelters you can use the internet as there is a lot of information available on this topic.

Since 1991 Park a Bike has represented every bike corrals, Bike Parking Corrals and bike shelter company in the country. With a vast amount of knowledge gained from experience in this industry and from other businesses owned by Bauer, Park a Bike continues its vertical integration from being a distributor to a manufacturer with its own signature product line that adds simplicity, value, and environmentally safe products.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Bike Corrals - Factors to Keep in Mind While Designing




There are number of practices that have been adopted so far when it comes to constructing bike-parking areas. In fact, one of the major concerns for employers is the arrangement of parking space for bikes that are covered by the cycle to work scheme. A few pointers should be kept in mind while planning for the bike parking space. These include:

Visibility:

A cycle parking area should be easy to locate. It is not a good idea to hide the parking area from open view. Positioning the cycle parking area in a corner of the underground car parking space can lead to the staff remaining unaware of its presence. Instead of publicizing its location, it is better that the same is moved to an open location.

Accessibility:

The area for Bike Corrals should be preferably located at a distance of 20m-30m from the office. Making space for it close to the entrance would definitely have a positive impact on the employees and more and more of them would be encouraged to take up the scheme.

Ensuring Complete Safety and Security:

The parking area should be completely secured. Railings should be installed on one end and the bike wheels and frame should be firmly locked with it. The staff using the parking space should feel that their property is completely safe against any kind of security threats. Installation of a CCTV and additional lighting equipment will serve the purpose.

Easy Maintenance and Management

The stands should be strong enough to provide support for all kinds of bikes and be easy to use. A difficult arrangement may dissuade people from opting for the cycle scheme. The cycle stands should have a robust finish so that there are minimum chances of the bike sustaining damage. If possible, employees should be assigned a cycle locker each. It is necessary to monitor the stands regularly so that arrangements can be made in case the space is exhausted or for the removal of bikes that have been abandoned.

Designing a Covered Parking Space:

Instead of arranging for bike parking corrals in the open, it is advisable to develop a covered parking space. You need to ensure that the bikes are protected against all the external elements.

Attractive Parking Equipments

Using attractive parking equipments would definitely add to the appearance of the parking space. It should be of an appropriate size and the color scheme should complement the surroundings.

Proper Entrance to the Parking Area

Cycle parking should be done in accordance with off-road and on-road cycle network. Difficult road conditions should not end up causing barriers to smooth parking. On the contrary, you should make sure that the entrance to the parking area is well planned for the benefit of the cyclists.

It is necessary to ensure that the arrangement for cycle parking does not get in the way of any other activity. If the parking area is appropriately located, there are minimum chances of this getting in the way of any other activity. Therefore, it is necessary that it is located in full view. At the same time, it should not emerge as an obstruction.