Step 2: Cycle Parking and Storage
Making it both easy for people to store and access their bikes in their homes and the buildings they visit, and secure from bike thieves, can encourage cycling to become seen by residents as a quick and easy option for local journeys.
Objectives
Locate cycle parking in convenient and secure locations.
Consider how cycles can be stored as securely as possible.
Consider what additional facilities could be provided to make cycling easier for everyday journeys.
Guidance on cycle storage in buildings
The refreshingly bright and attractive space that forms the cycle store at Nightingale Village - Architecture architecture, Austin Maynard Architects, Breathe, Clare Cousins Architects, Hayball, Kennedy Nolan
G10 Location: Provide quality cycle storage in prominent locations at the front of buildings / sites . The location should be easily accessible from the main entrance, and support the number of trips as modelled in the Ebbsfleet Active Travel modelling.
G11 Attractive facility: The cycle store should be designed as a prominent facility using high quality materials to entrances , to highlight cycling as a key option for journeys. Carefully consider the design of doors, ventilation and openings into the cycle store to encourage it to be seen as an attractive place to leave bikes.
G12 Entrances: The access and entrance door(s) into cycle store should be generous and easy to use when wheeling a bike through.
G13 Lighting: The cycle store and associated access from the nearest street should be well lit. Sensors could be used outside the cycle store to allow hands -free activation. The high cost and portability of electric bicycle batteries means charging is likely to happen within the dwelling.
G14 Additional facilities: Consider provision of wash-down facilities (tap and drainage) within communal bike stores for residential buildings.
G15 Provide changing facilities: For cyclists that are appropriate to the building / facility use, and the needs of the people using it. See Workplace Cycle Parking Guidance for further details.
Guidance on cycle storage for houses
1. Ideally bikes should be as easy to access as the car [Images courtesy of Atlanticbike.co.uk]
2. Sizing the garage so it can easily accommodate bikes to the side or rear of the car.
3. A cycle store for the rear garden or within a shed.
G16 Location: A storage area should be provided within the plot that accommodates a minimum of 1 adult bicycle per bedroom within the dwelling. This requirement could be satisfied by ;
A dedicated cycle store within the front garden, so its as easy to access as the car.
Cycle storage provided within the garage (see garage design guidance for requirements)
A dedicated cycle store within the rear garden or within a garden shed that would have sufficient storage for both cycles and outdoor equipment and meets the requirements of G17.
G17 Shed cycle storage:
Shed should be tongue and groove construction, with minimum 18mm thickness.
Shed should be securely fixed to a concrete foundation and ground anchors provided.
Walls and floors should also be stout enough to allow the attachment of wall bars and stands fitted with anti-tamper fixings.
Doors must be secured by mortice locks and not padlocks.
At least 1m2 storage space must be provided within the shed, for garden equipment etc, in addition to that provided for cycle parking.
Where more than two bicycle spaces are required, the scheme should include either a ‘Sheffield’ stand or wall bars to provide a secure fixing point.
Aim for an access corridor from the rear garden to the front of the property greater than 1.2m in width.