Parking a Bike in Galway City??

pencil

Hey,

I work in the city centre - instead of doing the car thing in to work very morning I'm planning on saving on gym fees, buying a bike & cycling in.

Only thing is that there is no where at work that I can lock a bike up! So I have to find somewhere else. Obviously if I purchase a piece of space shuttle technology in the form of a bicycle I don't want to leave it out exposed to the weather and other elements (the KD's of this world for example).

Is there anywhere where you can lock up a bike safely in the city centre? Or am I destined to sit in this hellish traffic forever.

Cheers.
P

po0k

I cycle to work everyday and around town.

I generally lock my bike to any available post, railing and sometimes even a proper bike rack when they're not already full.
Unfortunately, there are virtually none that I know of around town that are sheltered.
Maybe consider buying a cheaper [looking] bike?

Write to your local representatives - City Council and TDs, the new Mayor of Galway - about encouraging bike travel by providing secure services?
There are schemes in several cities around the world where renting bicycles is either very low cost or free - with accompanying ID.

It would certainly ease congestion.

Maybe talk to your employer about arranging some sort of safe bicycle storage? Maybe a 'wet-room' for changing and storing the rain gear?
Obviously this depends very much on your place of work having the space and resources to do this, but enquiring about it is free and could have wide-ranging benefits.

padi89

pencil wrote:

Obviously if I purchase a piece of space shuttle technology in the form of a bicycle I don't want to leave it out exposed to the weather and other elements (the KD's of this world for example).
Is there anywhere where you can lock up a bike safely in the city centre?
Cheers.

Simple regular maintenance and lubrication of moving parts will protect a bike from the weather, you dont nessecarily need shelter.
As for scummers trying to rob your bike , the only thing do do is not make it look attractive , as said earlier buy a cheap bike and a decent lock and put it somewhere fairly visable.

pencil

SyxPak wrote:

I cycle to work everyday and around town.

I generally lock my bike to any available post, railing and sometimes even a proper bike rack when they're not already full.
Unfortunately, there are virtually none that I know of around town that are sheltered.
Maybe consider buying a cheaper [looking] bike?

SyxPak were you playing Battlefield last night? I was in a game with a user called SyxPak!

Looks like this is my only option - cheaper looking bike & free railings - where (railing wise) do you find handy? Can you get away with this?

SyxPak wrote:

Write to your local representatives - City Council and TDs, the new Mayor of Galway - about encouraging bike travel by providing secure services?
There are schemes in several cities around the world where renting bicycles is either very low cost or free - with accompanying ID.

It would certainly ease congestion.

I don't think the public representitives in his town have time to do anything else with all there constent bickering.

Maybe talk to your employer about arranging some sort of safe bicycle storage? Maybe a 'wet-room' for changing and storing the rain gear?
Obviously this depends very much on your place of work having the space and resources to do this, but enquiring about it is free and could have wide-ranging benefits.

I'm the employer - no space I'm afraid.

pencil

padi89 wrote:

Simple regular maintenance and lubrication of moving parts will protect a bike from the weather, you dont nessecarily need shelter.
As for scummers trying to rob your bike , the only thing do do is not make it look attractive , as said earlier buy a cheap bike and a decent lock and put it somewhere fairly visable.

Good points

kevmy

If your near the college you could park up there. There is shelter in some places and plenty of bike racks. If not there is the protestant church (St. Nicholas'?) which is pretty close to the city centre.

Get a U-lock pretty much impenetrable IMO. I've been going on bike 4 yrs now and the only time I had trouble is when I forgot the lock and it got stolen. D'oh!!

jacket/potato

Bikes are definitely the way foreword only as long as they don't get taken by scummers on the streets!!! ass holes i tell ya!!

gerryo

pencil wrote:

...Only thing is that there is no where at work that I can lock a bike up!

If it's not too late, consider a folding bike. You can bring it inside!
There are folding racers, if you travel more than a short distance these might be better.

Some folding bikes are small enough to fit into a reasonably small (but strong) bag, many are supplied with bags. If it's too wet 'n windy, just get the bus home, carry the bike with you.

Get one with at least 20" wheels & a few gears.

Will last for years, although Galway potholes will eventually get the better of it.

po0k

Rough price-range for such a device?

nobodythere

If you want shelter and your workplace is anywhere near the college, put it in the bike rack under the concourse.

Parking's a bitch for cyclists in this city, no shelter. You can also throw it in some car park most of the time and nobody will notice or care.

gerryo

SyxPak wrote:

Rough price-range for such a device?

This is the cheapest I've seen locally (Argos)

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=30001&langId=-1&catalogId=10151&productId=660422&Trail=C%24cip%3D44184.Sports%2Band%2Bleisure%3EC%24cip%3D44209.Bikes%2Band%2Bcycling%3EC%24cip%3D44223.Leisure%2Bcycles&categoryId=44223&clickfrom=name

It's Ok, better ones available from specialists in the UK cost about €220~280.
They are usually better quality too. Some fold down really small. Others have folding pedals, easier to carry.

Here's a cool commuter model, expensive though.
http://strida.co.uk/demo/index.php

Here's another place http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/

I found a few reasonable bikes in the UK around the €220 mark, carrriage costs drive up the price.

However, if it's just for tipping around town, the Argos bike might be OK.

You can get these really cheap in the USA ($ 120 Wallmart), guess you might just squeeze it into the luggage allowance.