Hi! I've been living in park slope for a couple of years now; I've really got the itch to pick up some new wheels. I'm considering picking up a second hand, decent-condition, runaround bicycle for my day-to-day. Or at least, days-when-it-makes-sense-to-cycle. Parking outside in the elements is fine, I can maintain a bicycle.

The point is, even a regular runaround could sit idle for a few days at a time. A problem I have is that I am not permitted to bring bicycles indoors (which is fine by me: it's a walk-up with a fairly narrow staircase, and it would be ridiculous to haul a bicycle in and out of here). The basement and ground units are occupied, so also not good for storage.

Which implies street parking. Near my apartment, there is only one bicycle loop, on 5th. That feels like temporary parking, not a place to lock your regular bicycle. I've read about the requirements on car garages to offer bicycle storage, but the costs associated with that would outstrip a citibike membership. And it would imply I'm not parking my bicycle at home.

Do any folks here have experience with regularly locking their bicycles outside? Am I missing a good option for bike storage? Are there any options for requesting more bicycle parking in a neighborhood?