The plastic caps brand the racks with embossed and stickered text, and through their color usage, reinforce the NYC Cycling Map’s routes and paths. There are currently 3 colors being used on the NYC Cycling Map and as new routes are created, we envision adding more colors to the palette. Color is significant because it can help riders quickly identify which route or path they find themselves on.

The rack or rack cluster’s caps will have a unique identifying number which can be used to access important cycling and route information. Dialing into the system with a mobile device, a user will input a code which will return a url that links to Google Maps with a NYC Cycling Map overlay. The code provides the exact geo-position of the bike rack, giving the user his/her exact location on the map. This information will be cycling-focused at first, but eventually can be rolled out to include local history, nearby landmarks and parks for use by everyone (pedestrians, tourists, etc). The rack will serve as information hotspot and cultural ambassador.

Front and side view of rack, as well as how it would be manufactured

Color coding of caps match bike route/path colors on NYC Cycling map

Number on cap allows for geolocation; demonstration of different locking configurations

Example of bike rack in situ