Bicycle parking

What it is for

Good bicycle parking serves four purposes at once. It brings order to public space, keeping pavements and entrances clear. It protects against theft, by allowing the frame to be locked rather than just a wheel. It shelters against the weather where it is covered, which matters for a bicycle left all day. And it makes cycling attractive: on a company site or near a station, the quality of the parking directly influences how many people arrive by bike.

The available designs

Where to place it

Location matters more than the model. A few rules that hold up in practice: the parking should be closer to the entrance than the car park, visible from a busy route for social safety, reachable without having to dismount too early, and lit. A technically perfect shelter in the wrong place will stay empty.

For schools, allow for peaks: three hundred bicycles arrive within ten minutes. Aisle width and the number of access points matter more there than the rack model.

Mounting and ground conditions

Mounting depends on the substrate. On existing concrete or paving, chemical or mechanical anchoring usually suffices. On soft ground, concrete footings or a slab are needed. For shelters, wind load and snow load determine the foundation; we calculate these rather than estimate them.

We visit the site, take measurements, produce a layout plan and handle installation, including coordination with your contractor in the case of a redevelopment.

Materials, maintenance and service life

Hot-dip galvanised and powder-coated steel is the standard: strong, repairable and refurbishable after years of service. Aluminium does not corrode and keeps the structure light. Certified hardwood adds warmth but requires maintenance. Stainless steel is used where appearance is paramount or in coastal air.

Maintenance stays limited: check the anchors, repair the coating where damaged, clean the gutters on shelters. We supply spare parts and can take on maintenance.

Standards and points of attention

Several tender specifications refer to recommendations on centre spacing, bay length and aisle width. We test the design against these before submission, and tell you honestly when a requested number of places cannot be achieved in the available space without compromising usability. Eighty usable places beat a hundred of which half stay empty.

Frequently overlooked: room for cargo bikes and trailers, the width needed for panniers, and a power point if electric bicycles are to be charged.