Bicycle parking becomes increasingly important nowadays, due to the more ecologically-oriented traffic habits. There is no doubt about the importance of bicycles in today‘s chains of mobility. It is not only a means of travel, but also a piece of sports and leisure equipment.
By using a bicycle, you can get exactly to your destination. The passionate cyclist does not want to park his bicycle anywhere, but have it always around and use it as often as possible instead. The alternatives of parking bicycles are sometimes as dissimilar as the bicycles themselves. At low-grade and unprotected parking facilities rather old bicycles can be seen, whereas high-tech bicycles are preferably taken along right to the office or flat.
The duty to provide bicycle parking facilities has become a serious issue for every constructor due to the introduction of new building regulations and the respective parking statutes. Regarding various educational institutions, large companies, stations and stops as well as sports and leisure facilities, the requirement is to have the possibility to properly park a great number of bicycles and not only a few. Various public programs and the activities of the ADFC reg. society (German bicyclist‘s association) to promote the use of bicycles resulted, among other things, in bicycle stations at traffic hubs like railway stations, where one can safely park in terms of – Bike & Ride – and combine it with the services offered for cyclists.
There is no point in creating bicycle parking facilities at the lowest level of an underground car park, just in order to fulfil some kind of regulation. The cyclist simply has almost no chance to use such facilities safely and comfortably, aside from the rather theoretical case of a motorist who loads his bicycle, which he uses recreationally, into his car or puts it on a bike carrier in the car park.
In addition to traffic-related and economic aspects, as far as bicycle parking facilities are concerned, issues like location, weather protection, user-friendliness, ergonomics and protection against mechanical damage, theft and vandalism are of particular significance.
Aside from a number of conventional bike racks and parking boxes, for particular applications bicycle parking systems equipped with mechanical and electrical auxiliary devices and especially designed to safe floor space are also available.
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| Double parker for bicycles in a bike station (Bike & Ride) | |
For automated bicycle parking facilities it is of critical significance to provide for protection against damage or theft of bicycles or their components, as well as the option to store baggage at the same time, whereas saving floor space and construction space can only rarely be achieved. The opportunities of automated bicycle parking systems have been investigated by GIVT mbH as early as in 1996/1997 by order of the Federal Minister of Transport (R&D-Project 77397/96 „Opportunities for automated bicycle parking systems from the view of developing the bicycle as an environmentally-friendly individual means of transport“).
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| Modular automated bicycle parking system with an vertical paternoster lift (order development of GIVT mbH, 1998 - 2001) |
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| VELOMAT – Bicycle parking tower (parking shelve) with boxes at the main station of Innsbruck (A) (Photos 1997; the tower was removed in 2003 due to rebuilding activities) |
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| Bicycle parking tower (parking shelve system by Fredenhagen with a tong-like gripper in the lower frame section, 1994/1997) | |
Automatic parking systems for bicycles were realized so far only as individual or pilot plant. They have above all a perspective in case they will be continuously optimized with regards to production and operating costs. Today a profitable operation of an automated bike parking system is not presentable in most cases.
Our services
We offer our know-how as parking space planners also for the specific topic of bicycle parking, as a partial service for building-integrated planning of bicycle parking, as well as for singular bicycle parking systems and bicycle stations. Our philosophy to create the optimal solution for each particular site aims at designing user-friendly and safe bicycle parking facilities and direct and safe traffic guidance for cyclists. Regarding bicycle parking, we are also open to any technology. For example, even simple brackets to lean on the bikes, or other applications like horizontal stainless steel pipes, integrated into the façade, can be a practical and affordable solution.
We collaborate with architects, constructors and green planners, as the need may be.
Planning services for bicycle parking facilities and bicycle stations
Demand analysis and dimensioning
- Site-related traffic generation as daily, weekly and annual time variation curves
- Competing parking facilities
- Building law related requirements
- Specific local situation
- Differentiation with respect to utilization and operation types
Design planning
- System variants
- Preferred system
- Ground plan layout and height planning
- Traffic guidance
- Escape routes
- Sign-posting
- Handling system
Traffic connection
- Dimensioning and positioning of the required access ways
- Routing
Economic analyses
- Operator concepts and additional uses
- Cost estimation
- Revenue forecasts
- Viability assessments
- Calculation of grant needs
Tenders
- Preparation of tender documentation
- Bid assessment
- Decision recommendations
Acceptance procedures
- Technical acceptance procedures for traffic and systems engineering
Planning and engineering services for automatic bicycle parking systems
We are offering to you to apply our experience regarding automated parking systems for cars also with respect to bicycle parking. There are varying essential accentuations leading to basically different solutions. For example, you can hardly grip a bicycle by automatic machines, the handlebar is always moving and objects can follow out like from the child’s seat. Therefore, as a rule only a closed box is considered a favourable option, it is however bulkier and heavier.
Regarding projects with automatic bicycle parking systems we offer our expertise in planning activities for all planning stages, in Germany with reference to the service phases according to HOAI, part IX Services in the technical equipment, §§ 68-76, whereby we adapt them as it needs to be optimally done for the respective project.
Additional engineering services will be calculated on the real costs basis.