As people increasingly turn to more eco-friendly methods of transportation instead of driving, infrastructure must adapt. Utrecht, a Dutch city and one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities, has opened a 3-story bike parking garage at its central train station a few weeks ago. Designed by the firm Ector Hoogstad Architecten, it is the largest of its kind in the world with a capacity of 12,656 bikes.
Bikes are a key commuting method in Utrecht, accounting for 60% of trips made into the city. The city plans to further encourage this trend by doubling the number of bike commuters by 2030. Individuals looking to catch a train in Utrecht often bike, driving the need for a safe place to store bikes near the train station. Normal bike parks require too long of a walk.
On the ground level of the garage is a plaza that was once a street. Under the plaza is the garage itself and the street-level bike path extends underground, leading into the garage.
Cyclists can ride into the garage, find a parking spot, and go to their train platform in under 5 minutes. There are colour-coded routes, a roundabout, and digital signs indicating which spaces are unoccupied, giving cyclists a convenient and easy experience. Beyond parking, the garage also features staff to ensure smooth operations and address theft, a shop for bike repairs, and bike rental options. Riders can quickly access the main level through central stairwells or head straight to train platforms via a dedicated tunnel.
The garage is already becoming popular and filling up during peak hours.
This new bike garage is not the only bike parking space in Utrecht. Considering these other spaces, the city now offers 22,000 bicycle parking spaces.
Other Dutch cities are also creating more bike parking spaces. The Hague is constructing a facility for 8,500 bikes and the Netherlands plans to create 200,000 new bicycle parking spaces by 2030.
Sources:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90403235/what-its-like-inside-the-worlds-largest-bike-parking-garage
