At first glance, parking your bike would seem to be a straightforward matter, but in practice it's often a lot more complicated. In particular, the design of indoor parking facilities often takes little account of how cyclists actually behave. This mismatch leads to frustration, underused facilities, and ultimately to chaotic bike parking outside on the street. René Dronkers, bicycle parking expert at Bikenine, argues that the focus should be firmly on the needs of the cyclist.
Cycling is second nature to the Dutch. For most of them it’s not just a means of transport, but an essential part of everyday life, like an extension of their legs. René explains, “We like to cycle right up to the front door of our destination. We only dismount at the last possible moment.” This deeply ingrained habit makes it hard for the Dutch to accept the idea that they need to walk a few extra metres to park their bikes in a designated spot.
Changing Behaviour However it’s important to change this mindset. As cities become increasingly busy, creating order around bike parking is essential. “The only way to achieve this is by providing conveniently located, user-friendly parking options,” says René. “If cyclists find it just as easy to park in designated facilities, they’ll be more inclined to use them. Although integrating these facilities into public spaces can be challenging, we should focus on developing local policies that are better aligned with this goal.” Currently, this alignment is often lacking, which (as René points out) is curious in a country with such a long-standing cycling tradition. “Designers, policymakers, and developers often start out by finding an available space for a parking facility and then focus on things like safety and interior design. While that’s important, the first priority should be the ease with which cyclists can find and access the facility. Otherwise, these places will just sit there barely used, despite all the money that has been spent on them.”
Unnecessary Confusion A good example of a poorly chosen location is the bike parking facility at Amsterdam Noord metro station. It’s located under the bus station, and the entrance is hard to spot from the cycle path. As a result, a lot of people don’t even know that it exists. They park their bikes on the street, not realising that they’re actually in a ‘designated no parking area’— a zone where bikes must be parked in racks or stands, or else they will be removed by the enforcement department. Unfortunately, this isn’t always clearly marked in the area.
“In other words,” says René, referencing his marketing guru Steve Jobs, “a bicycle parking project should start by figuring out where people actually want to park before deciding where the new facility will be located.” Another example of poor design is the Beursplein parking facility in Amsterdam, which also hasn’t made things easy for users. You enter it via a long staircase which is difficult to negotiate, and once you’re downstairs, you have to go through a registration system. This causes delays and serves no obvious purpose, as the access data stored on the system isn’t actually used for anything. On top of that, the registration system has taken over the work of the parking attendants, who were originally hired to welcome visitors and check that things are functioning smoothly. Now, the only thing they have to do is listen to complaints about the often malfunctioning system. The solution? Make it enjoyable to park there again! It will make the experience better for everyone.”
Putting Cyclists First René believes the solution is simple: “If we want bicycle parking facilities to be well-used, we need to consider the cyclist’s needs from the very start of the design process. The facilities should be easy to find, clearly marked and accessible, without unnecessary inconvenience. Cities like Groningen, Delft, and Nijmegen have done this well. You can ride your bike straight into the indoor parking facility, right up to the rack, and park without any hassle. It’s this kind of user-friendliness that encourages cyclists to park properly.”
Another good example is the parking facility under the University of Amsterdam on the Roeterstraat, a former car parking garage.
René notes, “It was converted into a parking facility for cyclists in 2018, especially for students. Over 5,000 students and staff ride in daily. They can cycle straight up to the rack, and it works! Sure, the slope is steeper than the regulations recommend, but it’s working to their satisfaction and there have been no accidents or complaints. These sorts of examples have a lot to teach us.” While there’s still plenty of room for improvement in the Netherlands, we’ve also learned a lot from our mistakes. This offers a unique opportunity for us to share that knowledge abroad. René adds, “Paris, for example, has become a fantastic cycling city, but they’re already dealing with a shortage of good parking facilities, which has led to a rise in bike theft. We’re in touch with them, and I’d love to share my insights to help them develop efficient common-sense bicycle parking solutions. The rule is the same everywhere, whether in the Netherlands or another country: if a parking facility isn’t well-designed and easy to use, cyclists won’t use it.” Better for Everyone A well-thought-out bicycle parking facility sells itself. There’s no need for complex instructions or no-parking zones. It leads to less chaos on the streets, and creates a safer, more pleasant environment for everyone. What’s not to like?
