I don't know the details, but a few of the tenants said they have asked the landlord multiple times over the years to install bike racks, and nothing has been done.

I would say you should try contacting the landlord again, and if they are still unresponsive, you could always post complaints about the lack of bike parking at sites such as these:

http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/CT-New-Haven-Strouse-Adler.html

http://www.apartmentreviews.net/find/connecticut/New-Haven.htm

Perhaps the landlord faces a significant barrier to installing bike parking? If space or cost is the issue, bike lockers are a pretty good option. For a residential property, I would recommend lockers with integrated key locks. This will give the landlord maximum control over how the lockers are used.

You should emphasize that this is in their best interest. Bike lockers are a highly visible amenity, and could potentially help them achieve LEED (green building) certification.

These folks make a pretty convincing argument for their product:

http://www.cyclesafe.com/CycleLockers.tab.aspx

Hi Brian - I appreciate your comments and feedback. Unfortunately, the landlord does not generally respond to any of our suggestions, complaints, etc. (this is a long story and I can give you more detail if you want). Suffice it to say that we're taking every measure possible to get them improve areas outside as well as inside the building, and I was hoping something like a bike rack--which would benefit the neighborhood in general--would be appropriate for SeeClickFix. If you think I should remove this issue, I will certainly do so.

If you can take a photo of a location within the public right-of-way where you think a public bike rack would be well-used during daylight hours, you probably stand a reasonable chance of getting it onto the City's list of places to install bike racks. Just bear in mind that a bike rack holding two bicycles will occupy a 4'x6' space. For the city to install the rack, this 4'x6' space must not extend into any driveway or into the main sidewalk walkway. ADA guidelines recommend keeping clear at least 5' of sidewalk width as the main walkway (though 6' is generally preferred). In addition, when installing racks at or near bus stops, this 4'x6' area should not interfere with the landing area of either the front or the rear door of the bus. In neighborhood retail areas, you also need to make sure parked bikes will not get in the way of deliveries, but I don’t think that will be an issue in your case. Finally, it is much less expensive to bolt a rack into an existing slab of concrete than to have to pour concrete (if your site is unpaved or paved with pavers, bricks, slate, asphalt, etc.), so where possible look for a site currently paved with concrete or faux bricks (concrete slab with brick pattern on the surface).

That said, for storing bikes overnight, conventional wisdom says you need to have some sort of secure bike parking such as bike lockers or indoor bike storage. The thought is that, even if you have a great U-lock and an ideal bike rack, thieves will still strip the bike of the seat, rear wheel, handlebars, or anything else they can remove if they can gain access to the bike in the middle of the night.

I know of one example of a home owner in Portland, OR experimenting with publicly accessible covered bike parking (on private property), but that’s still quite rare in North American residential areas.

Have you talked to the city's transportation department about your request? They are installing dozens of racks and perhaps they could get involved in making the request or offering to donate the equipment.

The Department does not provide bike racks to residential units. If there is a need for racks due to a demand from area buisnesses, we would then inspect the location and make a determination based upon need and space requirements for the rack to be properly installed.

Two new bike racks were installed on the sidewalk along Olive St over the summer!

The department decided to alter their stance on bike rack installations in late summer and will now install at apartment complexes with multiple units, as long as the existing conditions on public property (sidewalks) can accomodate bike racks without impeding the public right-of-way.