Vertical Bike Stands in Downtown Palo Alto
Once upon a time — like in the late ’70’s, when I was a Stanford undergrad — neighboring University Ave. definitely wasn’t seedy, but it was no one’s idea of upscale, either: after all, the low-rent University Creamery was practically an anchor tenant (still the best chocolate shake I’ve ever had — and lots of it).
No more.
Now, the six block long, downtown stretch resembles nothing so much as “Rodeo Drive North” — or at least, the nerd version.
“Rodeo Drive” . . . For Nerds
So, along with a clutch of trendy bistro’s and coffee bars, there’s an Apple Computer store, some luxury home goods stores, and a bike store.
Except that the price tags on the bikes are what you and I are accustomed to paying for cars (OK, maybe just motorcycles).
Given the area’s pricey real estate, every square foot counts — even in the public spaces.
Voila!
Vertical bike stands, both to conserve space and make an architectural statement.
“High-end Homogenous”
For all that, I’m still not convinced University Ave. circa 2013 is actually “better” than the earlier version, or more interesting.
The overall effect — call it “high-end homogenous” — evoked a line from “Admission,” the book about getting into an Ivy League school.
In the words of Portia Nathan, screening thousands of overachieving 17 year-old’s, “All the applicants were remarkable in the usual ways.”
Just substitute “tenants.”
Ahh, but the sun (a few weekends ago) was glorious.
P.S.: You know you’ve spotted a trend when even the municipal parking garages are cool (they are).
