All in all, I will side with you on #1. The use of an elongated helix could easily lead a passerby to see it as an art installation, but having practical use.

Other creative ideas I have run across include, this one-of-a-kind, comb-shaped bike rack was made by Knowhow Shop in Los Angeles; it’s now a public art piece in Roanoke, Virginia.

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Image courtesy of Know How Shop LA

On a more practical note, Polish student Tomasz Brzeziński submitted this minimalist design to the Fortis Young Design competition in 2008. Even though he did not take top prize, his design was one of the finalists.

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Image courtesy of IWP