Like fine furniture, these new serpentine pipe bike racks are wrapped to prevent scratching.   I thought the serpentine bike rack sculpture - complete with pillow cases - set against the Breuer linear-designed façade of the Cleveland Museum of Fine Arts addition was a nice juxtaposition. 

When the first bike is locked up, the scratches will begin.   Best to wait ‘til then for the inevitable  (or use stainless steel pipe or galvanized pipe instead of painted pipe).