Cycle parking is an essential component of the cycle infrastructure in an area. Well-designed, convenient, and high-quality cycle parking will often influence your decision to cycle. There are two types of cycle parking and bicycle parking racks:
- The short term for rushing into a café or shop
- The long term for workplaces, residences, transport interchanges, and schools.
With these two broad categories, you will get the types of cycle parking available in the world in this article. You will be able to know the perfect bike or bicycle parking racks to use for your bike inside or outside your home.
Sheffield stand- bicycle parking racks
It’s the most common type of cycle parking. It’s a tubular metal stand fixed on the ground at two points in an inverted U-shaped. You will get Sheffield stands in small groups along streets and shopping centers. They are also common in train stations. They can get improvised by adding shelters to keep bikes dry in wet conditions.
Advantages
It’s stable, cost-effective, two-point locking on both wheels and frame. It’s cost-effective and easy to use for packing purposes.
Disadvantages
It may lack enough space for indoor packing.
The Sheffield stands are different depending on the installation process and supplier quality. The toast rack is another Sheffield stand you can choose.
Two-tier racks
The Dutch-designed two-tier racks offer double capacity in the same footprint. You can stack and lock bikes in two different levels in large numbers. These racks are applicable both indoors and outdoors. Two-tier racks are ideal for large cycling hubs and public service transport interchanges.
Advantages
Space efficient and more bicycle parking density.
Disadvantages
Not fit for old buildings and basement parking areas. You will have to lift your bike onto the upper tier, and it’s not suitable for nonstandard bicycles.
Wall racks (butterfly)
The metal butterfly wall-mounted racks are very unpopular with cyclists for many reasons. These racks get bolted on building walls and secure the rear or front bicycle wheel. These racks are for short-term parking solutions. They are ideal if you are out and about and not likely to leave your bike locked for a long time.
Advantages
Cost-effective and space-saving.
Disadvantages
Can make bike wheels to bed out of shapes. Failure to support the bike, its frame isn’t secure, and theft can happen at any time.
Are you a facility owner? Try and avoid these free-standing wheel racks and butterfly wall-mounted racks. The leading suppliers of parking solutions do not sell them to clients in recent days.
Other wall-mounted types are available to hang bikes from the front wheel. It’s a more cost-effective solution that allows safe bike locking. It’s better than using the butterfly or fixed hoops. The use of these racks is rare. If it’s the only solution available, you need to get guidance on using them since they involve bike lifting.
Cycle hubs
Cycle hubs refer to a wide bike parking area in a secure and covered structure. Such areas have special facilities like changing rooms and bicycle repair stations. You will also get lockers and showers in these areas. Some cycle hubs are open to general use, but others have restrictions only for a pass or key holders. You will find these hubs in transport exchange areas like bus and train stations.
Advantages
The limited access prevents theft.
They have a large capacity.
Convenient for commuters.
You will enjoy the extra facilities provided.
Disadvantages
Some hubs will charge a fee and deter use.
Seasonal cycle numbers reduce their availability.
Bike lockers
Individual bike lockers are another type of cycle parking you can use. Bike lockers get bolted on the ground to give only a single user access. A bicycle stored inside the locker is not visible to passersby. It makes it hard for theft to happen in such a scenario. The lockers can be vertical, horizontal, and even made to fit folding bikes. You will get bike lockers at workshops or within cycle hubs.
Advantages
Installation is quick and provides better security to your bike.
It keeps your bike dry in bad weather conditions like rains.
Disadvantages
Users can treat these public lockers as personal property, thus difficult to manage.
Semi vertical racks
They are the best cycle racks when there is insufficient parking space. You will find most semi vertical racks inside buildings. They are standard for two-wheeled bikes only. As from the name, these racks store bicycles on a slant by placing tires into fixed-width channels.
Advantages
Space-saving and suitable for indoor use.
Disadvantages
Not suitable for cargo bikes and only for bikes with wider than average tires. You must lift your bike onto the rack.
Summery
The quality and type of parking available in an area will influence your desire to ride there or not. Choose a parking facility that is affordable to you and promotes bike safety.
