Washington Avenue Parking Benefit District Bike Rack Competition
Investigating how parking in the Washington Avenue corridor in Houston is changing and how to accommodate nearby shops and residents.
THE CHALLENGE
The Washington corridor has grown in popularity over the years. Once a neighborhood filled with industrial buildings is now filled with expensive condos, restaurants, and bars. With a limited amount of parking and an increase in driving in and around these destinations the Washington Avenue Parking Benefit District Association looks to explore improvements in bike riding to retain and encourage more bike riding.
THE TEAM
Amando - Product Designer
Vivian - Documentation/PM
Josh - Product Designer
KEY GOAL
Design bike racks that fall in line with the community's style and needs.
INSIGHT
Washington Avenue is known for its great nightlife. Due to the cluster of bars, clubs, and restaurants, we revealed a neighborhood of new and old styles: a state of transition from the old industrial to the upscale community. Our stroll through the avenue also revealed some inconveniences: side-walks in need of service, shortage of parking space, and a scarcity of other forms of transportation/lack of security.
Uneven, unsafe, unkept, or missing sidewalks.
Limited or reduced paved parking and gravel lots.
Low to no security for other forms of transportation.
Lack of infrastructure ideal for bike riding.
IDEATION
We envisioned a set of bike racks that would be visible, accessible, and include interactive touchpoints but still represent the community as a whole. We created models to refine the form and proportions.
PROTOTYPE
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Our team made a prototype that best represented our concept. After being chosen as the finalist for the project, we further refined the form of the bike rack to make it easier for production. We contracted George Kingsley, an experienced welder, to help us with the welding who donated most of his time for a small fee.
Final
Vector is a photo-luminescent bike rack that comfortably secures up to two bikes per rack.