Acorn Bike Ring
The City of Toronto wants to redesign bike rings that will be mass produced from 3/4" corten steel and stationed outside the York Eglinton BIA (on Eglinton Ave. between Marlee ave. and Dufferin Street).
Designs must be easy to fabricate, cost efficient, safe for use by the general public, stylish, and be able to lock up multiple bikes effectively. There should also be a narrative behind design choices.
2022
Woodshop, product design, rapid prototyping (Adobe Illustrator and CNC milling)
Project duration: 4 weeks
Toronto, ON
Location Research:
Bike rings will be stationed anywhere between Marlee ave. and Dufferin street along the Eglinton BIA. I want my rings to stand outside the new Oakwood LRT station that is currently under construction.
Narrative:
The final design of the bike ring should promote the environment following the philosophy that cycling is great for you and the planet. The design should also align with aesthetic of the area.
Considerations:
A simple design that is easy to fabricate and cost effective is best - no dangerous protrusions or pinch points that would damage the bike or injure the user can be present. The final model will be made of 3/4" Corten steel which is durable and does not require any additional maintenance. A single or double post design satisfies these requirements and also prevent debris from gathering at the base.
Concept Ideation
Final 3 Designs
Key Features
1. Acorn:
- Supports many sizes of bike
- Horizontal bar keeps locks in place
- Stem can hold bags
- Single post design: easy installation
2. Tree:
- 3 spaces = multiple locking options
- Supports many bikes
- Single post design: easy installation
3. Guard Raccoon:
- Length accommodates more bikes
- 2 posts are sturdier
- Most expensive / time-consuming to produce and install
