Robotic Bike Tower- Bicycle Parking Wonder from Japan

May 7th, 2008

If you haven’t caught this awesome bike parking structure yet, it’s time to check it out. Mechanical, electronic bike parking ramps and facilities have actually been around Asia for decades. This design from Tokyo looks a bit newer and more advanced than any bicycle ramp or tower that we have come across. The intricacy and speed of this rack system are what impresses us most. Though we would never want the server to go down…. 

Minnesota Bike Summit a Big Success

May 1st, 2008

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Nick Mason

MN State Bicycle Advisory Committee, Industry Representative

Dero Bike Rack Company

P: 612-359-0689

F: 612-331-2731

nickmason[at]dero.com

www.dero.com

  

Bloomington, MN- May 1, 2008- Minnesota bicycle enthusiasts announce the success of the first Minnesota Bike Summit in nearly a decade. Over one hundred bicycle advocates, industry representatives, and public agency professionals gathered on Saturday April 26, 2008 to learn from each other and discuss how to communicate more effectively on bicycle issues throughout the state.

The day began with a keynote presentation from Wisconsin neighbors, Tom Huber and Dave Schlabowske. The pair credited the important relationship between a state agency and a citizen advocacy group, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, with improving the quality of bicycling throughout the state.

            “I could not be more thrilled with the outcomes. We had excellent representation from citizen groups, public agencies, and the bicycle industry- both from the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota,” said Lisa Austin, volunteer co-chair of the MnDOT State Bicycle Advisory Committee. “There was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement around creating a state-wide bicycle advocacy group.”

Attendees split into smaller breakout sessions covering topics on Facilities & Policy, Promotion & Education, and Organizing.  Speakers from the DNR, DOT, and others provided valuable information on the various policies, planning processes, and funding sources necessary to be effective in working with agencies on upcoming bicycle related projects.

            Industry leader, Pat Sorensen of Penn Cycle rounded out the industry promotion session that featured a diverse range of efforts from the single, community bike shop, Sunrise Cyclery, to Minnesota’s first bicycle center, the Freewheel Midtown Bike Center.

            Many advocates were excited to have Dominic Liberatore of the Thunderhead Alliance assist Minnesota in getting more organized. “It’s definitely a challenge to get organized when so much has already been done. Minnesota has accomplished a great deal,” Liberatore said after assessing what was missing in the state. The working session group assembled and prioritized both short-term and long-range goals that can become a work plan for a more formal group.

            “The Summit provided the opportunity to talk specifically about what an advocacy-based organization could do on behalf of cycling in Minnesota,” said QBP Advocacy Director Gary Sjoquist. “QBP supports the creation of an advocacy organization with a clear mission and executable objectives.”

At the end of a cold and snowy spring day, attendees left energized and more educated on how to taking bicycling to the next level throughout the state. “It was an amazing day thanks to everyone who gave their time and energy. We’re hopeful to continue and expand the Summit next year with even more participation from industry and the community,” said Nick Mason of Dero Bike Rack Co.

Summit partners included members of the MnDOT State Bicycle Advisory Committee (SBAC), Quality Bicycle Products (QBP), and Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota. The event was hosted by QBP who graciously provided meeting spaces, support staff and food for attendees.

About SBAC:

Appropriation law instituted the State Bicycle Advisory Committee in the mid 1980’s to advise the Commissioner of Transportation and other state officials on issues pertaining to bicycle transportation in Minnesota. Over the ensuing years, it has operated under its own bylaws and with registration by the Secretary of State. The committee currently has 15 citizen members and 10 agency members and conducts 5 meetings per year. The executive committee and various short-term issue committees work on specific priority projects. The SBAC and Mn/DOT bike staff work to coordinate work plans and objectives. Visit: www.mnsbac.org/

About QBP:

Based in Bloomington, MN, QBP is a leading distributor to the cycling industry. QBP offers domestic and international retailers a wide array of products and services including a 1,500-page catalog, a robust online ordering system, a renowned custom wheel service, a specialty bike-building program and more. QBP continues to be a vigorous advocate for the cycling industry. For more information, please contact Jo Wright, director of marketing at 952 -941-9391, or visit: www.QBP.com.  

About: Minnesota Parks & Trails Council

The Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota exists to acquire, protect and enhance critical lands for the public’s enjoyment now and in the future. The Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is a grassroots membership organization that has worked vigorously for more than 50 years to protect, expand and enhance Minnesota’s most special places by acquiring critical land for incorporation into the state’s park and trail systems. Visit: www.parksandtrails.org/   

See Dero Bike Racks in Green Source Magazine

April 29th, 2008

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We’ve always known that bike racks and bike parking are part of the green solution. Green Source Magazine features Dero’s Bike Bike Rack in its April issue’s “green products section.”  See the full write up on page 44: http://www.zinio.com/gncissue?is=255209223&ns=usa

 

Dero to Sponsor Twin Cities Bike Walk Week

April 24th, 2008

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 Next week begins National Bike Month, and Dero Bike Rack Co. is a proud sponsor of Twin Cities Bike Walk Week. Dero will supply over 400 temporary, secure bike parking spaces to the downtown destinations on May 14th, Bike to Work Day. In Minneapolis, participants will find bike racks on the government center plaza. St. Paul’s bike parking will be available in Rice Park.

Dero will also be competing in the Workplace Teams competition with both bikers and walkers (and even a dog in a trailer) joining in the mix. We like free breakfast almost as much as bicycling- so why not both?

For more information on how you can join in “The biggest celebration of bicycling and walking on BOTH sides of the Mississippi,” Check out: www.bikewalkweek.org

One more trip: Bike to lunch

April 19th, 2008

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Like a growing number of companies, Dero Bike Rack Co. has an incentive program to get employees to choose biking and walking to get to work.  Like other programs around the country, Dero’s has been successful in getting more people to choose bicycling for the daily commute. As we all know, there are many more trip opportunities to bike and walk during the week.  One of those trip opportunities is lunch time.

A new program from Outdoor Chattanooga has participants getting out on bikes for a ride to local restuarants or to bring in a lunch and bike to the park for a picnic. It’s one more way to choose biking, but it is also a fun opportunity for excercise in the middle of the day. Who doesn’t need that?

For more information, see this story:

 http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/apr/18/biking-lunch/.

 Or visit Bike Chattanooga:

http://www.bikechattanooga.org/BicycleFleet.html#Topic2

Ride Your Bike to Wishes for the Sky

April 14th, 2008

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Dero Bike Racks is proudly sponsoring 500 bike parking spots for Wishes for the Sky. Wishes for the Sky is a large-scale multidisciplinary public art event celebrating Earth Day.  The event consists of wish-writing and kite-flying to create a large mobile in the sky; a bamboo wind chimes sculpture called House to Touch the Wind; a sound installation called Promises to the Earth; and a Wishmaking Pavillion. The experience is interactive and relies on attendees to make the collaborative work of art.  In its first year, 2007, the event produced an astonishing 5 lbs of trash with over 1800 attendees! 

This year, Wishes for the Sky hopes many more people will arrive by bike!  Dero is proud to provide ample bike parking for such a great, green event. The BikeWalk Ambassadors Program will also be on site to provide attendees with valuable information on how easy it is to choose bicycling and walking for transportation.

Wishes for the Sky 2008
Free event
Sunday, April 20, 11am-4pm
Harriet Island, St. Paul
Rain or Shine

 Find out more: http://www.wishesforthesky.org/

Dero Attends Oberstar Forum

April 10th, 2008

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This past Monday, Dero advocacy staff attended the James L. Oberstar Forum on Transportation Policy and Technology, held by the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota. The presiding message of this year’s forum, “Transformation of National Transporation Policy for the 21st Century” was led off by Chairman Oberstar himself. Oberstar recalled the first major vision for transporation change in the US in 1894- The beginning of what became the US highway system. It was a movement led by the League of American Wheelmen, now the League of American Bicyclists.(www.bikeleague.org). Oberstar went onto recount the major changes in US transporation history.

 Congressman Tim Walz (1st District MN) provided an explanation of how there doesn’t have to be a disconnect between national policy and local needs, emphasizing “policy must drive the legislation,” not ideology.

“What is the next vision for transportation?” posed Chairman Oberstar. Panel discussions on the National Commission Recommendations and The Likelihood of Policy Transformation provided a framework and resounding answer that the new transportation bill would be vastly changed from its predecessor.  For more information on the recommendations from the National Commision, please visit: www.transportationfortomorrow.org

Panel Discussion

DERO unveils Event Rack at National Bike Summit

March 6th, 2008

Event Rack

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Nick Mason

Dero Director of Marketing

Phone: 1-612-359-0689

Fax: 1-612-331-2731

nickmason@dero.com

Dero Unveils Event Rack at National Bike Summit

New Design Can Help Generate Income for Bicycle Advocacy Groups

WASHINGTON, DC- March 5, 2008- The Dero Bike Rack Company officially unveils the Event Rack, a rack specifically designed to accommodate the missing link of bike parking: user-friendly, secure parking at special events. The concept of “valet bike parking” continues to grow as more and more communities across the U.S. emphasize the need for green alternatives at typically high-traffic, high-congestion events. Production racks will ship in March 2008. Find out more at Dero’s website: www.dero.com

“As cities look to find new ways to reduce trips, accommodating bicycles at major events can play a substantial role in diverting auto traffic. By partnering with bicycle advocacy groups or even facility planners, communities will find that user-friendly, secure bike parking will motivate people to get out and bike to the big game or concert,” said Rolf Scholtz, president of Dero.

The Event Rack fills a gap in bike parking by providing bicycle advocacy groups or event planners with an option that fully supports the bike frame, is U-lock compatible, and requires no assembly. It also stacks in a minimal amount of space for transport and storage. These features minimize staffing and ticket needs of bicycle valet areas making them more cost effective and feasible.

The Dero design team wanted to address both the needs of users and organizers with the Event Rack. “Bicyclists need two things from a bike rack: ease of use and peace of mind,” said Hans Steege, engineer at Dero, “but organizers need something that works for them and is cost effective.” The resulting Event Rack parks bikes easily and securely, but also is cost effective enough for bicycle advocacy groups to purchase and run a bike valet program or bike parking lots on nearly any scale.

About Dero

Based in Minneapolis, MN, Dero Bike Rack Company is a leading manufacturer of bike parking systems in North America. Dero provides customers with aesthetically distinctive and functional designed bike parking for streetscapes, indoor bike rooms, LEED projects, and custom projects. With an emphasis on exceptional customer service and high-quality products made in the USA, Dero has maintained a growing base of customers across many industries. Dero proudly supports bicycle advocacy at the local, state, and national level. For more information, please contact Nick Mason, director of marketing at 1-612-359-0689, or visit: www.dero.com

Come see us at the National Bike Summit in DC

March 1st, 2008

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Dero Bike Racks is a sponsor of the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. This will be our third consecutive year supporting this great event held by the League of American Bicyclists. It is an opportunity for industry, educators, professionals, and advocates to share best practices and advice on all things bike. DC is obviously the place where national policy is made, and the National Bike Summit gives attendees the chance to meet with their members of Congress to discuss bicycling at both the local and national level. Find out more here: http://www.bikeleague.org/conferences/summit08/index.php

Welcome to the new site!

February 29th, 2008

homepage_screenshot.jpgAs you have probably noticed, things are looking shiny & new on our website.  We’ve added products, content, and resources to make this our most comprehensive site ever.  We will continue to add updates and modifications regularly to make our site easier to use and an improved resource for bike parking. Some highlights:We’ve expanded from Europe in our “World Bike Parking Tour” as well as found some more “Funky Racks.” We finally have a Bicycle Adovacy page that will keep up with our efforts and help show you how to contribute.Also, we’ve been doing our homework and plan on bringing you regular bicycle news items from around the globe right here. So, be sure to bookmark us or check back often. Thanks for stopping by!