Rosedale mall: Flimsy bike racks to accomodate snow removal?

Hello,
As some of you may already know, I really despise the current bike racks at Rosedale mall.
Their current racks consist of a hole the size of a quarter made by a curved strand of metal that is slightly stronger than a coathanger, which is attached to a heavy weight that sits on the ground. This type of lock only accomodates cable locks. *See pictures*

Pic of existing racks:


For a mall that attracts 40 million visitors annually I really was hoping for something better. I emailed the VP, Rollin Hunsicker, to ask him why Rosedale doesn't consider using better bike racks. I never received an email response, but I did meet him in person at a Ramsey County event, several months after I emailed him, and as soon as I mentioned my name he acknowledged the fact that he'd seen my email about the bike racks. When I asked him why he doesn't use anything better, he said that any bike rack that Rosedale installs must be convenient for snow removal. I explained that they do make wall mount racks that work with a U lock and he asked me to email him a link.

I looked at Dero.com and found some that I would like to suggest. http://www.dero.com/commercial_racks.html
-Ultra Space Saver
-Ultra Space Saver single
-Wall Rack
-Bike hitch

I also am going to suggest having standard racks but with a canopy over the top, to prevent snow from needing to be cleared in the first place.

Can any of you think of any ideas that would work in this situation, before I send my email response back to him? If any of you have any ideas for how to make the bike rack situation better at Rosedale overall, please let me know.

I seriously doubt that mall has over 100,000 visitors every single day of the year.

Notice that he said a bike rack solution must be "convenient for," not compatible with, snow removal? Sounds like it's an issue that they don't want to deal with. I've biked there many times so I am well aware that the trip is not for the faint-of-heart - B2 from the west is about the only way to get there without getting in the middle of some serious traffic. I'm guessing the percentage of customers that travel there by bike is so small so as to be negligible. So many other places of business, the U, downtown, etc. are able to make some sort of effort to deal with removing snow around racks, why can't the mall? Do they clear the sidewalks with a plow on a truck? Knowing what their snow removal methods are might help in finding an amenable solution.

Something like this:

perpendicular to the curb would be easy enough to work around provided bikes aren't abandoned so the racks are empty during off-hours. Just a pass on each side with a plow or Bobcat.

What about just ONE good rack? If they hand-shovel around the entrances, what's a few more minutes of one person's time to shovel out a little space for bikes to park?

I've watched them plow snow and on the sidewalks they basically use something that looks like a small bobcat. They have a shovel on the front of it and they plow it into one spot and use some other vehicle to haul it away I'm guessing. They did have an individual with a shovel who was doing the staircase and wheelchair ramps.

I think you are right that the percentage of bike customers is small, which is probably why they don't want to invest that much into a solution. What's ironic is that these crappy racks they have aren't even that old. They were purchased about 2 years ago and placed all over the mall. It does look like they want to put some effort into making accomodations but that they just arent' very bright.

I agree that the dero rack that you showed should work just fine in this scenario, assuming that no bikes were locked to it at the time that they wanted to run their plow machine past it. If bikes that weren't removed are preventing proper plowing, then what? I am guessing that Rosedale wants to avoid using people with shovels if at all possible.

I agree that one good rack for the mall would beat out all the crappy ones that they currently have put in place. If only they cared to put some effort into shovelling it properly.

Is Rosedale a lost cause? Should this thread even be here, or should we just write off their management staff as lazy, non-forward-thinking, stubborn people?

Couldn't agree more. I worked at Express there for a time and rode my bike every day from St Paul. I ended up locking my bike to a skinnier tree I found, because the current racks are not U-lock accessible.

I have emailed almost everyone on their contact page, and was told that my comments would be forwarded to the general manager.

The more lubbers that email them should increase the chances of us seeing a change come spring.

Email away!

I go to that mall only once a year, to Green Mill in November for a gathering of friends. Green Mill has an iron fence that I lock up at. Several years ago I went there to visit Granite City and was frustrated with the difficulties I had finding a place to park. I mostly avoid the mall now.

I've also noticed these "bike racks". They used to have a regular bike rack by Green Mill, but I haven't seen it in a couple years. I normally just end up parking by the DSW/Noodles/Green Mill area to a handicap parking sign or the iron fence at Green Mill that Hokan mentioned.

Those racks suck. I lock to a handicap sign by Big Bowl.

But mostly I don't go to that mall bc of that. 100% true.

I do owe them thanks - my car got stolen from the park and ride. Changed my life.

Maybe they could convert one of their surely profitable high-end teen girl clothing stores into indoor parking.


Seward Co-op has an interesting metal wall rack that people can lock up to that would probably not interfere with any snow clearance:

Anyone also notice that on almost every page of their website they have someone riding a bike?

Just sayin'.

I just looked at the website. How ironic is that?

Rosedale has been emailed.

I suggested the following:

1. The Ultra Space Saver: http://www.dero.com/products/ultra_spac ... saver.html
2. The Ultra Space Saver Single: http://www.dero.com/products/ultra-space-saver-single -
3. The Wall Rack: http://www.dero.com/products/wall_rack/wall_rack.html
4. The Bike Hitch http://www.dero.com/products/bike_hitch/bike_hitch.html

Or one could just avoid the place. It is hell on earth.

Bike rack issues are the least of it.

The other day my friend wanted to go see a movie here. It is the closest theatre to where we live, about 5 miles from his place and 2 miles from mine. We went to the Wynnsong Moundsview theatre which was further for the both of us.

I've decided I'm not going to frequent Rosedale mall until they make some major improvements, we're talking better racks, pedestrian bridges, bikeways, walkways, the whole works.

It's the closest theatre to me as well, unfortunately. Avoiding that area helps prevent the barfing, tho.

Rosedale finally listened and installed some real racks! These were just installed within the last month around all corners of the mall: