On this page you can find free plans and drawings to help you make several variants of bike racks (or Bike stands, bicycle stands).
The term ‘bicycle rack’ usually denotes a welded metal structure to which bikes are tied to secure their safety. Bicycle racks can usually be found in front of schools, businesses, shops, parks, public buildings ...
Bicycle racks are usually made of metal pipes or profiles, and they are not difficult to make. Basic knowledge of metalworking is required and most often the workmanship comes down to cutting, bending and welding. Bike racks need to be protected from the effects of the outside environment, i.e., weathering. There are various industrial methods for protecting metal surfaces (powder coating,…), and if you are making a bike rack in your amateur workshop, it is enough to apply two coats of primer paint to protect the structure from rust and two coats of some paint for metal. This will be enough for the bike rack to withstand rain, wind and snow for years. If possible, install the bicycle rack in a weatherproof place, or build a bike canopy shelter.
There are many types of bike racks: U Bike Racks, Wave/Serpentine Bike Racks, Bollard Style bike rack, Grid Style (fence style) bike racks, Decorative bike racks..., and they all have their advantages and disadvantages.
Note: This is an abbreviated version of the plan. You can download complete plan in PDF format at the bottom of this page.
Each bicycle rack must be:
durable, strong, easy to maintain, vandals resistant;
U-lock and cable lock compatible;
designed in a way that you can attach to it the bicycle frame or/and one wheel at least. There are bike racks to secure only the wheel and those to secure both the wheel and the frame. A disadvantage of bike racks securing the one wheel is that a thief could very easily detach the wheel and take the rest of the bike away. Another disadvantage with these bike racks is the possibility that one bike falling to the side causes a domino effect, so all the other bikes tied to the bike rack will fall to the side, too. It should be noted that bike racks that secure one wheel only are used very much, as well as that the above described only happens with badly designed bike racks. In addition, let’s get real: there is hardly any chance that a thief could steal separate parts of your bike in a busy place!;
• adapted to different types and sizes of bicycles;properly installed to the surface to be suitable for accommodating the bikes safely from thieves;
both well-designed and functional, otherwise cyclists will not use them.
Things to consider before installation:
Visibility: The bicycle rack must be placed in a prominent place so that cyclists can easily spot it and that theft is prevented.
Spacing: When determining the space where you will install the bicycle rack, please consider:
the space provided must allow the maximum number of bicycles to be attached to the bicycle rack;
allow for adequate clearance around the rack to maneuver bicycles
account for access from both sides if bike rack is double sided
limit conflict with pedestrians, cars, and walls; and never doorways or walkways.
Weather Protection: If possible, install the bike rack where it is protected against weather conditions, or make a shelter.
Here you can download plans for making several types of bike racks:
Wave/Serpentine Bike Racks plans
Inverted U bike racks plans
Bollard Style bike racks plans
Examples of drawings from the plan that you can download in PDF format at the bottom of this page:
