Have a car park bike at home, at work, or in front of the local bakery is always a considerable asset. This equipment contributes to the development of cycling. Practical and safe, they make everyday use of the bicycle easier.
CONTENTS
- The different types of bicycle parking?
- The different models of bicycle garages
- How to arrange a bicycle parking lot in a condominium or at a workplace?
- Useful links
1. The different types of bicycle parking?
To go to work or go shopping, being able to rely on a secure place to park your bike is a real plus for the cyclist. When we know that1 out of 6 bicycles sold in France is stolen every year, we immediately understand the interest of having this type of urban furnitureand an bike parking combined with a good anti-theft device, guarantees a security optimal for his bicycle. However, according to a CNRS study dating from 2013, the two main “barriers” to the use of bicycles are the lack of infrastructure and theft. THE bike parking therefore becomes an essential development because it is both useful against theft and a facilitator in the development of cycling. Today, there are many solutions for the creation of these places specially dedicated to bicycles.
The 4 different types of bicycle parking
To be able to park and secure bicycles, 4 different types of parking can be created. Some are very easy to install, including by an individual, while others require the intervention of a professional. Local and regional authorities, administrations and companies, public transport companies are the first to have to invest in their installation. These achievements highlight their commitments to sustainable development. Without forgetting that through these investments, everyone is working to simplify cycling. What attract more users, reassure them in their daily lives, to ultimately make the funding profitable.
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Short-term parking lots
Short-term parking meets the need to park your bike safely for stops of less than an hour. They are needed near small businesses or public services. Their use is free. They only require passive monitoring and very little maintenance. It is enough that they show good visibility and good transparency to offer optimal safety to the bicycles. Closing or access control systems are not mandatory. A good lock combined with good anchoring material, such as a bike rack, may suffice in this specific case.
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Medium-term parking lots
For a stop of more than 1 hour, installing medium-term parking lots is highly useful. These arrangements are to be placed in front of or near the shopping, sports, leisure or cultural centres. They are very convenient for people who travel or live about 20 minutes from these places. Passive monitoring is most often sufficient for this type of infrastructure. They can be built in delimited but not closed spaces. Having a roof, dedicated lighting and a CCTV system can make them even more enjoyable. They only require minimal maintenance and can also be free.
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Long-term parking during the day
For cyclists who need to park their bikes safely from morning to evening, long-term bicycle parking is the preferred facility. These devices are useful alongside places of study and work. They must also have good visibility and be transparent on the sides, to guarantee maximum safety for the bicycles. Depending on the external risks, the ideal is to equip them with surveillance cameras and powerful lighting. They are to be installed preferably in a shelter Closed bicycles. Unlike the first two, they may require a little more sustained and regular maintenance. Their use can be free or paid.
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Long-term night parking
Finally, for people who need a secure place to park their bike from evening to morning or during the weekend, long-term overnight parking is the ideal solution. These are particularly suitable for apartment buildings or even to stations and airports. Unlike other types of parking, they require much more supervision. In addition to having to be visible and transparent, the use of video surveillance is a real plus in this type of development. They must also be covered and have dedicated lighting. Their use can pay off due to a larger initial investment and more frequent maintenance.
Mandatory bicycle parking at work and in public places
Decree No. 2016-968 of July 13, 2016 concerns facilities dedicated to recharging electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles and infrastructure allowing the parking of bicycles during the construction of new buildings. Listed in articles L111-5-2 and L111-5-3 of the construction and housing code, the State now imposes the creation of bicycle parking spaces in workplaces and public places. The goal? Make cycling easier. This measure continues the work undertaken by la law LAURA and its decree no. 2011-873 of July 25, 2011 which have already made the construction of secure infrastructures for the parking of bicycles compulsory for the construction of new buildings for residential use.
This is how the new buildings for industrial, commercial use, or hosting a public service or even housing and which are equipped with individual parking spaces, intended for civil servants, employees or users of the public service are concerned by this measure. The obligation also applies to cinemas.
The bicycle parking must therefore be located on the ground floor of the building, or in the 1st basement. It can also be placed outside the building. In this case, it will be obligatorily closed and covered. Intended exclusively for bicycles, the bicycle shelter will necessarily include bicycle garages to allow two-wheelers to be properly attached. The bicycle parking must be supervised or equipped with a secure closure.
The capacity of the bike park must be adapted to attendance of the building :
- For offices, the bicycle parking must have an area of at least 1.5% of that of the ground. Thus, with a floor area of 15 m², the garage bicycles will have at least an area of 225 m².
- For optimum industrial or tertiary buildings, or housing a public service, the number of bicycle spaces required will be calculated as follows: 15% of all employees present simultaneously in the building (on declaration by the client). For example, if the building accommodates 200 employees, the bicycle parking lot will have a capacity of 30 spaces.
- For commercial use, we consider that there is a rotation. The number of bicycle spaces will then represent 10% of the number of customers and employees welcomed simultaneously (on declaration by the contracting authority).
2. The different models of bicycle garages
Here are the different kinds of bicycle parking that can be found.
Ground parking
If you have enough space, you can opt for ground parking. It is very practical, especially if your bike is heavy and therefore difficult to store at a height. This solution is simple and allows park your bicycle quickly. There are 1-seater, 2-seater, … up to 10-seater bike racks. This type of bicycle garage is very practical since it allows you to modulate the number of spaces desired and also to park disc brake bikes. Fixing is also very easy since all you have to do is bolt this street furniture to the ground with the corresponding screws and nuts.
We recommend the solutions of:
- Bicycle parking space saving and anti fall
- Bike garage orderly and fast
- Bike garage dual purpose
- Bicycle parking temporary
- Bicycle parking dual-rack
Wall-mounted bike storage and double-height bike parking
If you are short on floor space or if it is important toarranging the smallest space, it is possible to equip yourself with wall-mounted or “double-height” bicycle racks, also called “double racks”.
The wall-mounted bike rack allows tohang vertically one or more bicycles on a rack fixed to the wall. Some wall-mounted bike racks are designed to be installed in a garage or in building boxes. In the latter case, they must be provided with anti-theft supports.
“Double-height” bicycle parking lots, also called “double rack”, make it possible to use the available ceiling height. Ideal solution for building boxes, or for storing a maximum number of bicycles in a minimum of space.
We recommend the solutions of:
- Bike stand vertical or wall
- Bicycle parking double height
3. How to install a bicycle parking space in your condominium or at work?
To set up a bike park in a place of passage, condominium or work type, it is advisable to follow a few simple rules. Respecting them guarantees the creation of safe, practical and orderly parking spaces.
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Good monitoring
In order to ensure the safety of bicycles and to fight against the scourge of bicycle theft, bicycle parking lots must be monitored. However, there are different types of monitoring: passive, functional or active monitoring.
-“Passive” monitoring is ensured by all persons located on the premises or circulating nearby. The presence of passers-by, residents or employees of neighboring buildings is then the deterrent factor for thieves. To be effective, however, this parking space must be placed as far as possible in a place visible to as many people as possible.
- “Functional” monitoring: Combined with passive surveillance, people working around the bike park can be asked to monitor the parking area in addition to their usual tasks. Monitoring then becomes functional. It can be the concierge for example. However, controlling the bicycle parking lots is only a secondary task in this case, and safety is therefore entirely relative.
-“Active” monitoring: For optimal security, it is best to call on guards or security agents whose main mission is to control and monitor these parking lots.
In the end, the best thing is to combine these 3 types of surveillance for maximum security of the premises.
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Efficient lighting and a transparent bicycle shelter
To allow effective surveillance, these parking places must remain visible from the outside 24 hours a day. Optimum lighting is therefore mandatory. A bicycle shelter with transparent sides is strongly recommended to better distinguish what is happening inside.
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CCTV
Deterrent tools for potential criminals but also continuous surveillance of the premises, the installation of surveillance cameras is ultimately not so expensive. They are relatively effective because of their dissuasive side, but they must always be combined with the other means mentioned in this article.
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Bicycle parking with secure access
The bicycle parking can be secured by walls, gates, or inside a dedicated bicycle shelter. The bike shelter can be equipped with a closing system, mechanical, electrical, or even with badge or access code.
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Bike hitches
Bicycle parking spaces must be equipped with one or more fixed points for attach the bikes at 2 points, or ideally 3 points. Thus the cyclist can attach the frame + the front wheel (2 points) or the frame + the front wheel + the rear wheel (3 points). A hoop, a bike rack, a bar... can make it possible to secure at 2 points, even if sometimes they are not at the right height to allow the bike to be attached using the most common locks. We would therefore prefer a bike rack which allows you to attach easily the frame and a wheel, see the frame and the 2 wheels. Unlike bicycle supports, bicycle supports are anti-fall and guarantee total stability of the bicycle.
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Tips for storing bikes
For orderly and quick storage, always favor bike racks with a coherent and practical layout plan for the cyclist. The goal is to avoid anarchic, even “wild” parking of bicycles.
If necessary, the bikes can be offset a little by installing the bike racks on the cob. Or if the bicycles are accessible from the front or from the rear, a spacing of 70 cm can be provided between each bicycle stand. Otherwise space 90 cm apart in case of access to the two-wheeler only from one side. Finally, when setting up the bike garage, you can use bike racks that allow you to install the bikes face to face (ex: VelFace) to take advantage of all available space. Do not hesitate to contact us for any study, using the contact form.
We recommend the face-to-face storage solutions:
4. Useful links
To learn more about this article, we recommend the following links:
- Ministry of Territorial Cohesion [Bicycles: secure parking in the buildings] published 3 Sep 2013 and updated 26 Jan. 2016
- On the Vélo et Logement website, the page [regulations on the parking of bicycles in buildings] as well as summary sheets,
- Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB), the page on [bicycle parking in private spaces] and the page on [bicycle parking in public spaces]