samagon Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 So my office is moving downtown (yay for me!), I live at telephone and lockwood, about 3 miles east of downtown. As a result I am going to plan on riding my bike a lot instead of driving. Is there anyplace downtown that would be considered 'safe' to lock my bike? Covered? Maybe even a bike valet for a few bucks a day? Should I just buy the cheapest bike walmart has and expect to replace it every time it gets stolen (still cheaper than driving and parking) off the rack in front of the building? I can maybe just bring it up to my office until someone tells me I'm not allowed to do that. I have a few months before the move happens, so I'll have time to ride around and explore my best route, and the area around the building (chase tower, texas commerce tower, tallest tower in Houston, 2nd tallest tower west of the mississippi, etc). Looking forward to this move, but I need to find a safe place to store the bike! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cspwal Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 I do know there are covered bike racks on the 800 block of Louisiana, in front of the public works building. They look like boulders that are actually canopies that lock down over your bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 So my office is moving downtown (yay for me!), I live at telephone and lockwood, about 3 miles east of downtown. As a result I am going to plan on riding my bike a lot instead of driving. Is there anyplace downtown that would be considered 'safe' to lock my bike? Covered? Maybe even a bike valet for a few bucks a day? Should I just buy the cheapest bike walmart has and expect to replace it every time it gets stolen (still cheaper than driving and parking) off the rack in front of the building? I can maybe just bring it up to my office until someone tells me I'm not allowed to do that. I have a few months before the move happens, so I'll have time to ride around and explore my best route, and the area around the building (chase tower, texas commerce tower, tallest tower in Houston, 2nd tallest tower west of the mississippi, etc). Looking forward to this move, but I need to find a safe place to store the bike! Check the McKinney/Travis corner of the 919 Milam building. It has a garage in the base, and I have seen a bike rack through the glass right at that corner. How to access it is another question, and a good one because it is not obvious how to get to a bike locked up there. Not sure if property management would have a problem with that, but I've only seen one bike there, and it was high end so it caught my eye. Also check with your new building, there may be some space inside around a loading dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rechlin Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 I think the covered bike racks on the 800 block of Louisiana were removed earlier this year. Maybe they were just moved, but if so, I can't find them. Many buildings now have safe places for bike parking. Try asking your building management (or even the security desk) and maybe they can help. My building has a room dedicated to bike storage, complete with a repair stand and pump, in the basement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
august948 Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 So my office is moving downtown (yay for me!), I live at telephone and lockwood, about 3 miles east of downtown. As a result I am going to plan on riding my bike a lot instead of driving. Is there anyplace downtown that would be considered 'safe' to lock my bike? Covered? Maybe even a bike valet for a few bucks a day? Should I just buy the cheapest bike walmart has and expect to replace it every time it gets stolen (still cheaper than driving and parking) off the rack in front of the building? I can maybe just bring it up to my office until someone tells me I'm not allowed to do that. I have a few months before the move happens, so I'll have time to ride around and explore my best route, and the area around the building (chase tower, texas commerce tower, tallest tower in Houston, 2nd tallest tower west of the mississippi, etc). Looking forward to this move, but I need to find a safe place to store the bike! You need one of these... I use one on the beat-up huffy I ride around on for errands. I think the lock itself cost more than what the bike cost 25 years ago when I bought it. I figure no one's going to bother trying to get through this thing just to steal an old bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Check some of the parking garages near your work place. Several of the garages that I am aware of have bike racks. Technically, those racks are kinda, sorta supposed to be for the employees of some of the businesses that they service but, frankly, there is no real way for them to know that for a bike rider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted October 21, 2015 Author Share Posted October 21, 2015 Thanks all for the feedback. I have a pretty hefty chain. I won't relish carrying it every day because it weighs about 15 lbs on its own. I suspect I'll probably end up with a ulock due to convenience and weight, but I don't think they're as secure as a big chain. I rode by the Chase tower on Monday and asked one of the security guards about bike facilities, he said none at the Chase tower, and no, I can't bring my bike up to my office. Our office has a contract with 601 Travis garage, and I tried to find someone around that location to ask about it, but there was no one there that looked at all tied to the building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 I suppose that you have already seen the racks in the picture blow along Travis, but it might make you feel better about using them to know that the bike messengers downtown use the little parklet/smoking area up on the elevated portion behind the racks as a staging/waiting area pretty much all the time. You might ask them what they think or if they have good ideas for a safer place. Most of them ride decent bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted October 21, 2015 Author Share Posted October 21, 2015 thanks nate, I saw the racks and was planning on locking up a walmart bike, if I couldn't find a better solution. I'll certainly ask them, if I get the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Take off the quick release skewers on the wheels and seat and replace them with some type of lockable type. https://www.google.com/search?q=lockable+quick+release+skewers&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiztO7r3OHLAhVO0WMKHanBAfEQsAQIYw&biw=1800&bih=962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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