Modern workplaces and public sites are expected to balance multiple practical requirements. Providing smoking areas to balance compliance with smoking regulations and staff comfort, and supporting sustainable travel are just two examples. Often, owners and facilities managers are left to make efficient use of both indoor and outdoor space to manage competing demands on facilities. One way to overcome the issue is to use a combined facility that meets several demands in a single footprint.
The Carrington Cycle Smoking Shelter offers exactly that: a purpose-built structure that integrates cycle parking and a smoking area into a single installation. It is a product designed for durability and flexibility across educational, commercial, and public-sector environments.
This article explores how a dual-use shelter like this can solve common site-planning challenges and what buyers should consider when specifying one.
Why Combine Cycle Parking and Smoking Facilities?
Space efficiency and user convenience are increasingly important, especially in overbuilt urban areas. A combined bike and smoking shelter allows sites to consolidate facilities into one controlled location. Moreover, if space is at a premium, combining two facilities into one may be your only realistic option to cater to two different groups – cyclists and smokers.
Another benefit of combining amenities is that, as with the Carrington shelter, you can install the entire product in one go. This will reduce installation and groundwork costs as well as time and organisational commitments.
By combining two solutions under one roof, you can also improve overall traffic flow and the site layout of your outdoor space. Designated locations for specific activities and cycle parking tend to do that very well.
Most importantly, of course, the benefit is that, even with limited space, you can provide cyclists with a designated, high-quality parking spot and show support for their chosen mode of travel. By offering optional bike stands that secure both the frame and wheels, the structure encourages cycling uptake while helping organisations meet sustainability objectives or earn development credits for cycle storage.
All this while also accommodating smokers by providing them with a specified place where they can smoke. This shows appreciation for your visitors, clients, or employees who smoke, as well as for those who don’t, as you ensure that other areas remain smoke-free.
The Carrington shelter is designed specifically for environments such as schools, offices, universities, and public buildings where both functions are needed, and space is at a premium.
Built for Tough Outdoor Environments
Durability is critical when investing in external infrastructure. The Carrington shelter uses a mild steel frame with several protective finish options, including hot-dip galvanising and polyester powder coating to recognised standards.
This shelter is made of 50mm box tube construction, manufactured to BS EN standards, with high-quality anti-vandal UV-stable polycarbonate roofing, and optional side panels made of the same material. The shelter’s features also include adjustable fixing feet suitable for uneven surfaces. In addition, to make installation easier regardless of terrain, it is available in bolt-down or underground installation options.
These features ensure the shelter is suited to high-use outdoor locations exposed to weather and wear. The robust design approach mirrors wider industry practice, where galvanised steel frames and impact-resistant cladding are commonly used to ensure longevity and weather resistance in smoking shelters.
Customisation to Suit Different Sites
One of the strengths of this shelter is its configurability. Buyers can tailor the installation to suit layout, usage levels, or budget constraints.
The shelter can be ordered with or without bike stands for secure bike parking on the cycle storage site, and with or without bench seating for smoker comfort on the other side. We also offer two types of ashtrays: wall- or floor-mounted.
Regarding the construction itself, there are options to customise the shelter by adding polycarbonate side and back panels. There is an option to include a divider panel, too, to provide a more visual and practical delineation between the two purposes the shelter serves. Furthermore, you can choose from galvanised or powder-coated finishes in RAL colours, or a combination of both.
Lastly, our standard size of 4000mm x 4000mm can be customised as well, just get in touch to discuss your needs. This flexibility allows facilities managers to scale features depending on user numbers, site exposure, or aesthetic requirements.
Supporting Smoking Regulation Compliance and Best Practice
Smoking shelters are not mandatory, but they are always a good idea, and including one on your premises is considered best practice. Smoking shelters help you and your staff or visitors comply with the regulation more effortlessly.
Even if not mandatory, there are, however, rules about smoking shelters, so designing smoking areas requires careful consideration of UK legislation and planning factors. Regulations generally require shelters not to be fully enclosed — typically at least half of the structure must remain open to the elements — to remain compliant. The Carrington shelter complies with that main requirement.
There are other considerations which you need to keep in mind when it comes to smoking. There may be additional local regulations you need to check. For example, some councils mandate the installation of ashtrays. Additionally, there are several acts like the Prevention of Public Nuisance, Prevention of Crime and Disorder, Prevention of Children from Harm, and Public Safety, on the basis of which you may be challenged in relation to smoking. Issues like noise from your shelter, second-hand smoke from neighbouring windows, or a littered area may cause serious problems. This means you must ensure your smoking area is not causing any such problems.
A designated shelter positioned away from entrances can help organisations with all of this. Providing a predetermined place for smoking can help you stay compliant, as it can protect neighbouring buildings and non-smokers from exposure, and better control litter, noise and fire risks. By integrating smoking provision into a planned structure rather than ad hoc arrangements, organisations improve both safety and perception.
Is a Dual-Use Shelter Right for Your Site?
Deciding whether a combined cycle and smoking shelter is the right fit comes down to how your site balances space, user needs, and long-term operational planning. These types of shelters are particularly beneficial where outdoor space is limited, as they allow you to maximise functionality without overcrowding the site. They also align well with environments where sustainability initiatives encourage cycling, providing secure parking that supports greener commuting while integrating another essential facility.
At the same time, many workplaces and public environments require a clearly designated, controlled smoking location to meet policy and compliance expectations while maintaining comfort for non-smokers. Rather than installing separate structures, a dual-use solution offers the advantage of one robust, durable installation that serves multiple purposes. This, in turn, simplifies installation, maintenance, and overall site management.
Ultimately, for organisations seeking to balance functionality, regulatory considerations, and cost-efficiency, multi-use shelters offer a practical, forward-thinking option. By combining key facilities into a single, well-designed structure, sites can streamline infrastructure, improve user experience, and make better use of available space — delivering long-term value that goes beyond the initial installation.