Bike racks and stands

The return of bicycles and scooters today is no longer debatable, in cities as well as in the suburbs or even in medium-sized towns. However, the car remains, of course, the most widely used means of transport: this even becomes a barrier to the development of cycling due to the high density of cars, limited available spaces for development, and the security of cyclists themselves. In a context of environmental protection, decongestion of city centers, the revitalization of commercial activity in city centers, and the cost per km of travel, the use of the bicycle is, however, the most relevant solution to address these issues. To develop cycling traffic, it is necessary to encourage new users by offering them, just like motorists, security, parking, and maintenance solutions. Developing and securing cycle paths, offering parking areas (parking, bike shelters, racks, stands…), improving security solutions for two-wheelers (against theft), protecting them from the weather, and offering quick maintenance solutions (inflation, repairs, etc.). It is, therefore, the development and multiplication of bike parking facilities that will encourage new users of the bicycle, who will feel safer and supported in their voluntary approach to this mode of transport.

There are several alternatives for deploying parking area equipment (stands, bike racks, scooter stands) and associated services such as troubleshooting, tire inflation, or repairs. Pragmatically, it is important to offer maintenance services and safety equipment at high-traffic and exchange areas (such as multimodal exchange hubs) to support the use of bicycles/e-bikes/scooters and reassure travelers with these amenities. The usage rate (the ratio of cyclists per area) will be considered an essential but insufficient data point to designate a location as a parking, security, and service site for cyclists and scooter riders. To develop assistance and services for cyclists, it is relevant to know the potential of the site (evolution of public transportation at a multimodal exchange hub, the development of commercial or professional zones, bicycle lane improvements, tourist attractiveness, etc.), and above all, it is crucial to know the available space. It is vital to be able to convert reality into the implications of deploying future cycling infrastructure to assess the importance of the service provided to cyclists.

In general, bike racks or stands, scooter stands, as well as maintenance stations, can be placed both outdoors and indoors: under a dedicated bike shelter, in covered parking areas, or in a two-wheeler room. However, these two types of equipment are made to withstand the elements and can also be installed outdoors.

All bike/scooter users, both current and future, are or will be interested in knowing where they can park, how to protect it, how to secure their two-wheeler, where, when, and how they can repair or maintain it. Not all bikes are in the same condition, and no one is safe from a flat tire. They should be able to retrieve it no matter how long it has been parked, etc. The users include individuals, employees of large companies or administrations, residents of residential neighborhoods, and tourists, who are or will be the consumers of parking equipment (to secure bikes and scooters), bike repair services, and inflation services.

Obviously, these facilities will be most effective and helpful in areas with high densities of bicycles for professional use, leisure bikes, or at public transport interchange locations (multimodal hubs). Local authorities (municipalities, medium-sized cities, and metropolitan areas), social landlords (property managers, residential neighborhood associations, etc.), service entities such as schools, educational centers, and healthcare centers, and finally, companies (Mobility Plans, etc.) are the four main decision-makers who have the authority to offer bike maintenance services and secure parking equipment in connection with the deployment of active mobility.

Key takeaway: These products are aimed at everyone: companies providing parking spaces for their employees and managing traffic flows on their sites, local authorities offering services to their taxpayers, users who form associations to launch participatory projects to park bikes in their neighborhoods, or to secure their two-wheelers as much as possible.