Cycle parking is easy to underestimate during the early stages of a building project. It can look like a relatively small part of the overall design, particularly when compared with other aspects of the planning and building process. It may appear like something which can be added at the end, wherever there is space left unused by something else.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. With years of experience behind us, we always advise clients to plan their cycle parking as early as possible. Good bike parking fits into a building in a way that makes sense, it is straightforward to use and provides a level of security people can trust. Bad parking does the opposite – takes up valuable space, creates awkward circulation routes, looks like an afterthought and, most importantly, leaves expensive bicycles vulnerable to theft. This, in turn, leads to cyclists simply not using it.
For architects, the key is to treat cycle parking as part of the design from the beginning, rather than something to fit in once the rest of the plan has been finalised.
Security starts with location
Where the bike storage area is positioned has a significant bearing on how secure it feels, which directly affects how likely it is to be used. Current Active Travel England guidance recommends secure cycle parking should be easy to access, covered, well overlooked, and located close to entrances.
That means thinking carefully about sightlines, lighting, pedestrian movement and access routes.
A cycle store hidden behind a service yard might technically be secure, but it can feel very different to actual users from one located on a well-used route close to the main entrance. When choosing a location, make sure to avoid secluded areas that are far away and hard to reach. Choose locations which are in proximity to the building or inside, where there is a usual flow of people, and are well lit. Natural surveillance matters because people feel a lot safer in naturally busy pedestrian areas.
For larger developments, this may be harder to achieve if the bike storage needs are high and the cycle parking must be substantial. An idea is to break a large cycle storage area into smaller, well-located facilities that make access easier while reducing the distance residents or employees have to travel by bike.
Security needs to be designed into the system
The security of a cycle parking facility starts with choosing the right storage system. Different rack designs offer different levels of protection, so the choice should reflect how long bikes will be left and the level of security required. For long-stay residential or workplace parking, for example, a robust rack that allows the bicycle frame to be securely locked is preferable to a simple stand designed for short-term use.
If you are choosing an outdoor solution, you should consider shelters and compounds, or for smaller storage needs, bike lockers. We offer a wide choice of each, and they come with different security features such as lighting, gates and various types of security locking systems. For indoor solutions, you can always opt for bike racks like two-tier ones and ideally install them in a location that is either already secure or can be further secured by installing a door or a gate.
The materials used are equally important. Cycle parking should be made from strong, durable materials that are difficult to cut, bend or tamper with. Robust construction helps protect the storage itself, while suitable locking points – and this means more than one, ensure that cyclists can properly secure their bikes to the rack.
As we mentioned above, controlled access can provide another important layer of protection. Where possible, secure cycle stores should have a controlled entrance, such as a key, fob, or electronic access system, limiting access to authorised residents, employees, or other users. This is particularly valuable for long-stay facilities, where bikes may be left unattended for many hours or even days.
Security rests on good foundations
A good level of security also depends on how the cycle parking is installed. Even the most robust rack or enclosure can be compromised if it has not been properly anchored to the ground or supporting structure. Fixings need to be appropriate for the surface and strong enough to withstand attempts to move, lift or force the system. Installation should therefore be treated as part of the security specification, not an afterthought.
For architects, this means considering the substrate, fixing method and installation requirements at the design stage. A secure cycle store is only as strong as its weakest fixing, so making sure the system is correctly installed and firmly anchored is essential to delivering the security the design calls for.
Bring the cycle storage specialist in early
One of the most useful steps anyone planning bike parking can take is simply to involve the cycle storage manufacturer early enough. We have years of experience, and from that we know that the earlier we are brought in, the smoother the experience. Our design process can include site visits, CAD drawings and advice on how different storage systems can work within a project’s available space.
That input can be valuable before plans are fixed. It is much easier to resolve access, capacity, clearances, and product selection at the concept or detailed design stage than after construction has started.
It also means the cycle storage can be coordinated with other elements of the project rather than treated as a separate purchase at the end.
Secure cycle parking is part of good architecture
Cycle parking might not be the most prominent element of a development, but it has a surprisingly measurable effect on how a building works for its users.
A secure facility needs to be accessible, well-located, properly laid out, and capable of accommodating the bikes people actually ride. It needs to provide genuine security rather than simply ticking a planning requirement.
The best way to achieve a successful, safe, secure, and user-friendly bike storage area is to consider cycle storage needs early. When designed alongside the larger development, entrances, circulation, landscaping, and other transport facilities, secure cycle parking becomes a natural part of the building rather than an awkward addition.
For architects, that is the real opportunity: not simply to find somewhere to put the bikes, but to design a facility that works from the first journey to the last.