Throughout Cologne it is quite usual to see bicycles park against unusual structures. We photographed some of these bicycles while walking through the central part of Cologne on a sunny afternoon. Some bicycles were locked up to trees, others to staircases, some even had to be lifted up to be locked up against a fence - only supported by a little ledge.We photographed as many unusual parking places as possible. In order to be considered unusual the bicycle had to be parked somewhere no one (or barely anyone) expects a bicycle to be parked.
Info
- Item author
- Rachelle Bugeaud
- Item Created
- 17 Jun 2010
- Photo taken on
- 17 Jun 2010 4:17 pm
- 17 Jun 2010 4:15 pm
- 17 Jun 2010 4:14 pm
- 17 Jun 2010 4:10 pm
- 17 Jun 2010 4:12 pm
Context of the observation
Location
Neumarkt, cologne
Germany
Germany
2 Interpretations
Often people have to create new parking solutions since all "official parking" places have been filled. An "official" parking place would be one where bike racks are available. This often leads to creative, unusual situations where bicycles are found secured to uncanny objects. It might also be possible that these "new" parking places which they have found are closer to their destination. For example if a person biked to a friend's place but there is no "official parking" nearby, he/she will simply lock up his/her bike to a tree which is in front of their friend's place. This saves time and energy since the cyclist doesn't have to waste time finding an "official" parking place.
I believe this observation is strongly related to the "No bicycle parking allowed" item. Unusual parking spaces are border-lining with illegality and it seems both observations have the same problem: the lack of proper parking places for everyone.
2 Questions & 0 Responses
What kind of characteristics does an object need to have in order to provide a reliable place onto which someone can lock their bicycle ?
Is there a way to make the unusual parking a little bit easier? In the case of the bikes in the wall, for example.