Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In

2081309249_fe9b6187b5.jpg
The days of the U- and wave-racks are numbered

Think you can build a better bike rack? Now's your chance.

Yesterday the city announced an international competition for a bike rack designed "to be an icon for New York City cycling." The competition is a partnership between DOT and the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum with support from Transportation Alternatives and Google.

The CityRacks Design Competition encompasses two categories: the Sidewalk Rack and In-Building Parking. Competitors may choose to enter in the Sidewalk Rack category, the In-Building Parking category, or both. The competition is open to the international design community including architects, artists, engineers, landscape architects, planners, urban designers, product and industrial designers, and manufacturers. Multi-disciplinary teams are encouraged to participate.

Designs should draw on contemporary street furniture, like the city's new bus and bike shelters, for inspiration, and should be "constructed of high-quality materials meant to withstand the rigors of New York City sidewalks." DOT will use the winning design as the "new standard" for bicycle parking throughout the city. More than $50,000 in honoraria to develop prototypes will be awarded, as well as $15,000 in prizes for top designs.

See the CityRacks Design Competition web site for more info.

Photo: stacyrosenstock via the Streetsblog Flickr photo pool

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

More Tantrums: City Halts 34th Street Busway After Threat from Trump DOT

The feds threatened to cut city and state funding if New York doesn't halt all work on the 34th Street busway so the FHWA can review the project.

October 17, 2025

READY, AIM, ‘MISFIRE’: NYPD’s Bike Speed-Limit Effort Only Adds Confusion in Central Park

Two slowly ambling pedestrians were clocked at 19 miles per hour. So what's the point of this, exactly?

October 17, 2025

Friday Video: Drool Over This London School Street

That's cricket! Check out how London transformed a roadway around a big stadium into a play street.

October 17, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Queen James Edition

State Attorney General Letitia James gave our national security desk reporters Dave Colon and David Meyer the ultimate hat tip. Plus other news.

October 17, 2025

Judge Orders Trump to Restore $34M in Security Funding to MTA

DHS overstepped its authority when it attempted to tie money from the Transit Security Grant Program to the Trump administration's efforts to deport immigrants, Judge Lewis Kaplan said.

October 16, 2025
See all posts