If your city has quite a few "sucker poles" where bicycles are stolen, adding commercial bike racks could make your business a hero to bicyclists.

What is a "sucker pole?" It's a name given to sign posts and other objects that at first appear to be a safe place to park a bike. However, these poles are generally not as secure as they look and can easily be unscrewed from their mountings or even just yanked out of the ground.

Many a disgruntled bicycle owner has returned to where they thought they parked their bike securely, only to find out, the item they hooked the bike to was not secure at all. Certainly not as anchored as a bona fide bike rack.

And with the high price of many bicycles today, the incentive for thievery is certainly there.

In fact, some bike theft rings (yes, just like organized auto theft rings) know exactly where these "sucker poles" are located and frequently drive around town in a van, ready to spring upon easy pickings. They also have their own "chop shops" where they either dismantle the bikes or prep them for resale.

Commercial bike racks save the day

This is where local businesses, shopping centers, and other entities can come to the rescue. Businesses can provide a solution by offering to locate sturdy and solid commercial bike racks on their premises. Or, they can contact city authorities and request that the city provide a bike rack near their storefront.

If you are an avid bicyclist and know some areas that are difficult when it comes to bike parking, let local businesses know there is an opportunity here for them to shine.

This has several benefits to a company:

• Goodwill - the use of bicycles by local residents is growing in this country. Today it is estimated there are 67 million active bicycle riders out there and every year that number grows. People are recognizing the benefits of bicycling for health reasons, lifestyle reasons and just fresh air in general. They are going to appreciate a business that provides a safe place for them to park their bikes.
• Ways to Attract Customers - guess what, if your business is one of the few places in the area where a commercial bike rack is located, it's going to attract bicyclists. That means your business is the first place they will stop. With their wallets and their purses. What a great opportunity to reach out to these people with in-store promotions. Whether it's a coffee shop, a restaurant or a retail establishment, your business will get them first. Before they empty their wallets. And you don't need to spend one cent on advertising. All you need are commercial bike racks.
• Promote on Social Media - one of the challenges of social media for businesses is the fine line between boring spam and helpful information. Not too many businesses have the time it takes to create useful information. Most of the time they are just posting a note about a special offer or a new product. But when businesses add commercial bike racks to their location, they now have an announcement that is less self-promotional and more service-oriented. It sends a message that, "Hey, this business is bike-friendly." That's the type of message that will get shared, liked, pinned and promoted. In addition, many towns and cities now have bike clubs. Let them know you added a commercial bike rack as a service to them. That's great public relations tailored specifically for a specific group.
• Help Deter Local Crime - nobody likes to see criminals getting the upper hand in any situation. Especially not a local business that already faces challenges preventing shoplifting or vandalism. Offering bike riders commercial bike racks will make this place a no-theft, safe zone for their possessions. If crooks are looking for "sucker poles," they won't be finding them in your area!
• Avoid Problems with City Property - if commercial bike racks are not available, people are going to hook their bikes up to whatever they can find. That includes trees, railings and sign posts. Well, in some cities, those bicyclists are in for an unpleasant surprise because some city departments will confiscate bicycles attached to their signs. Especially, if those signs are for bus stops and in the way of pedestrians. For what it takes to retrieve those bicycles in some cities, the owner will probably wish it was stolen instead. Making commercial bikes racks available can make all parties happy in this instance.

Commercial bike racks come in different classes

There are different types of commercial bike racks for different applications.

Class I - is for situations where bike are parked for more than two hours. This would be at places of work, train stations, schools, colleges and universities. Bike lockers and bike rooms are good solutions.

Class II - this is generally for short-term bicycle parking. In this situation where there might a high incidence of bike theft, it's important to provide bicycle parking racks with three points of locking contact - the frame, the front wheel and the rack itself.

Class III - this is the most popular type of short-term bicycle parking and usually involves commercial bike racks such as wave bike racks, u-shaped bike racks or grid racks (grid racks are generally for very short-term parking).

Naturally, there are guidelines for the placement of bicycle racks by businesses. Check with local municipal building departments to find out their specific requirements.

As a rule of thumb, it is best to place commercial bike racks in a highly visible area, no matter how well it is mounted into the ground. Plus, if they can be positioned within eyesight of a customer while they are inside the business, that's even better.  Keep bike racks within 50 feet of the building and provide adequate spacing from walls.  But also be sure to provide plenty of room for pedestrians. And periodically make sure the rack is still grounded properly and the mount is not loosened. (We published more detailed guidelines on where to position a commercial bike rack in an earlier blog here).

Nobody wants to be a "sucker" when it comes to locking up their bike and later finding it missing. Sometimes people are in a hurry and don't have time to find a bike rack or a more secure spot. Sometimes people believe they can quickly lock the bike to virtually anything and just run inside a store for a second. Guess what? Police say some professional bike thieves can rob a bike in just 30 seconds. That's how good they've become.

Nobody wants a crying, angry or upset bike owner standing in front of their store. They want a happy customer walking into and returning to their store. Businesses that provide commercial bikes rack offer a solution to all this frustration and aggravation for bicycle owners.  Problem solved.

Note: For more information go to our Commercial Bike Rack Buyer's Guide.