Frequently Asked Questions

What could I save if I biked to work instead of driving?

An automobile costs the average American $3,300 to $6,500 per year. Experts estimate a bicycle costs between $20 to $300 a year to maintain.

What is tamper-resistant construction?

The rack element should resist being cut or detached using common hand tools, especially those which could be concealed in a backpack. Such tools include, but are not limited to: bolt cutters, pipe cutters, wrenches, hammers, and pry bars.

What is Class I Bicycle Parking?

Class I bicycle parking is in a contained or enclosed structure, such as a parking garage or bicycle locker. This could also be as simple as a business allowing its employees to bring bicycles into the workplace and store them near the employees’ desks. This is the most secure type of bike storage since bikes are protected from both theft and punishing weather conditions. These facilities are best for commuters who must leave their bicycles for long periods of time.

What is Class II Bicycle Parking?

Class II bicycle parking means a stand or other device constructed so as to enable the user to secure by locking the frame and one/two wheels of each bicycle parked therein. (The requirement of one or two wheels depends on the city or entity doing the classification. These standards may vary.) Racks must be easily usable with both U-locks and cable locks. Racks should support the bikes in a stable, upright position so that a bike, if bumped, will not fall or roll down. Racks that support a bike primarily by wheel, such as standard "wire racks," are damaging to wheels and may not be acceptable.

What is Class III Bicycle Parking?

Class III, when used alone, is the least secure method of storing bicycles. These consist of conventional vertical bar-type racks as well as stationary objects (parking meters, lamp posts, trees, etc.). These facilities provide light security, and are useful for short-term parking.

What is Madrax's Green Philosophy?

As a premier manufacturer of bike racks and bike parking systems, Madrax is inherently committed to "green" by encouraging biking as an integral part of society. Moreover, the steel used to manufacture our bike racks and site furnishings is produced in the United States using the basic oxygen furnace process. The basic oxygen furnace process uses a minimum of 25% recycled steel. Our stainless steel bike racks are made of 90% recycled material. In addition, the vendors we use for our outsourcing are under 100 miles away from our plant. The e-Steele™ process we use on our bike racks is environmentally friendly, OSHA and EPS compliant, and recyclable as well.

Our new plant in Waunakee, Wisconsin also has many "green" features. Among them are our air filtration system as opposed to an exhaust system, four large Donaldson torits mounted to the ceiling to constantly filter and recycle the air, and a thermostatically controlled air compressor exhaust system which recycles the heat from the plant to the office area in the winter and filters the heat out of the plant in the summer.

For additional information on the recycled content of steel, please contact the Steel Recycling Institute (www.steelsustainability.org) or The U.S. Steel Group (www.ussteel.com).