Bike racks that have been designed to allow the use of a variety of lock types are the most effective for public bike storage facilities. Bicycles racks should be situated onsite in order to allow more racks to be added on if bicycle use increases. The following three general types of bike racks are available for bike storage:
- Bike lockers or locked/ guarded bike storage areas that provide high security protection are the best suited for long-term bike storage; they also provide high-security. However, these types of bike storage racks are expensive
- For medium security purposes, bike racks that secure both wheels and the bicycle frame which usually have moving parts and come with a user-supplied lock, are probably the most suited. The value of this type of rack increases, when it is coupled with covered protection against weather. The downside to this type of design is that it may not work with the common U-lock which is recommended for all bike users
- The inverted “U” or rail rack is the most common type of design in bike racks used for bike storage. Its simple design and affordability makes it attractive for many users of the bike storage facility. This type of rack, which supports the frame as well as the wheel, can be manufactured by a local welder. However, this type of bike storage offers the lowest level of security for long-term bike storage and hence is not commonly used in public parkways