Many households buy a bike rack and then discover that nobody uses it. Usually the reason is simple: it stands in the wrong place. If it is awkward to reach, badly lit or exposed to every gust of wind, people lean their bikes against the wall instead. A little thought about the position before you fix anything can save a lot of annoyance later on.
Start by watching how your household actually comes and goes. Where do people leave the house, and which way do they wheel the bikes out? The best spot is usually close to the front or back door, on flat, firm ground, so that nobody has to carry, lift or turn a bike in a tight corner. If the rack is a long way from the door, it will simply be ignored.
Shelter, light and space
Shelter makes a real difference. A spot under a porch, an overhanging roof or beside a wall keeps the worst of the rain off saddles and chains. Good lighting helps too, both for finding your lock in the dark and for making the area feel safer. A small lamp by the door is often enough, and a position that neighbours can see from their windows is better still.
Leave plenty of room around the rack. Handlebars, pedals, baskets and panniers all need space, and bikes that are squeezed together scrape one another and tumble like dominoes. Think about children as well: a lower stand near the door lets them park their own bikes and helps them form the habit of putting them away neatly.
Make sure the rack is fixed firmly, so that it cannot be lifted out or pulled loose. Use strong fixings suited to the surface, whether that is paving, concrete or a wall. Then lock the frame and a wheel to it every time, even when you are only nipping indoors for a moment. A rack that is firmly anchored and well used is worth far more than a fancy one that nobody trusts.
Finally, think about the neighbours and the path. The rack should not block a gate, a dustbin or the way to the front door. Check it once in a while, particularly after stormy weather, to see that nothing has loosened.
