Cycling UK Forum

I'm in the design phase of a new building at the moment, and looking at cycle parking provision.

At the moment the plans call for Sheffield stands (good) but I think the spacing is a bit tight (we have people with trailers and me with all sorts of funny wheeled things)

My personal preference at the moment would be to add some weather protection to at least some of those stands (let's be honest, the number of bikes falls when the rain does, so partial cover is going to be adequate).

I also think that the spacing needs to be more generous, but I can't recall where I've seen cycle parking recommendations documents in the past.
- Can someone point me at some relevant documentation (have another meeting with architects tonight)

What kind of building? Guidelines for residential are different than commercial.

What's in the Manual for Streets is pretty good it has recommended spacing for Sheffield stands, though TBH, the recommended spacing is insufficient for trikes, cargo bikes, and trailers. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... treets.pdf

the Sustrans Design Manaul also has guidance http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/defaul ... -10-14.pdf

Church, so neither (but commercial is more similar in terms of usage)

Note that we have me (on trike/bent) and families with trailers...

So slightly different usage (current architects plans have bikes sharing handlebars )

IME most Sheffield (and other) stands are placed too close together - little allowance is made for even a slim cyclist trying to wheel their bike into the space, or for panniers, or shopping bikes with wide handlebars and a fixed front basket. Also, I often see them placed too close to a wall so that it doesn't support the bike properly and it is difficult to lock the wheel to the bike.

Stands with an extra crossbar are more secure, as they offer more locking points, and the thief can't wrestle a bike flat to the ground and then use a big hammer to break the lock. (Assuming said thief can squeeze in between the bikes!)

Have you seen this guidance leaflet from the Cambridge Cycle Campaign? (PDF download) It seems to have a lot of useful details.

For me the most important aspect of a bike stand is its location - preferably at the entrance and under close watch. Otherwise I just bring my bike in ....

Could bike storage not be within the building off the foyer - I know, we are pushing the limits of architects' imagination here . . .

Check your local council's parking standards. Norfolk's includes guidance for the minimum required for all sorts of buildings, including that it must be closer to the entrance than the car park, although you can do better (as the council itself does) such as Sheffield Extra stands with the crossbars and longer racks or wider spacing.

horizon wrote:For me the most important aspect of a bike stand is its location - preferably at the entrance and under close watch. Otherwise I just bring my bike in ....

Could bike storage not be within the building off the foyer - I know, we are pushing the limits of architects' imagination here . . .

I'd have got it inside if I could have done

It's not going to be at the entrance, because that would be on a graveyard. It's either in the corner of the car park closest to the building (but not under any windows) or on the other side (which actually allows more space for cycles and cars, but is better overlooked from the building (we're not talking a long walk to the building).

I'll also be putting in CCTV given even a sniff of a chance

Although there is plenty of glass to the front there aren't that many rooms which look over the car park, and by nature the stairs/foyer of a church are not 'evenly' used, so there will be times when no-one is looking. But that's inevitable given the building.

Nice resource here http://parkthatbike.info/howToInstallCycleParking

I could measure the spacing of the Sheffield stands where I work - and then add a bit more to that as they seem a bit too close together. I have seen people struggling at times just to get ordinary unencumbered bikes in and out. I don't bother with them myself as my bike has a kick stand and nurse lock and the whole site is secure. I haven't seen any kind of provision anywhere for more unusual machines like bents and cargo bikes, probably a decent sized covered area with some heavy duty lengths of chain anchored to the ground would do the job.

When I park my cycle I try to find a Sheffield stand where manoeuvring/turning vehicles cannot go. Plenty of stands are right by the road or by parking places. Parking, like riding, we should be separated from motons, I think

Cyril Haearn wrote:When I park my cycle I try to find a Sheffield stand where manoeuvring/turning vehicles cannot go. Plenty of stands are right by the road or by parking places. Parking, like riding, we should be separated from motors, IMHO

Are you worrying about the common incompetent motorists or the rarer thief parking a van beside it to obscure their nefarious attacks?

We'll be in amongst motor vehicles, but away from any desire lines.

I'll think about kerbs as well...

mjr wrote:

Cyril Haearn wrote:When I park my cycle I try to find a Sheffield stand where manoeuvring/turning vehicles cannot go. Plenty of stands are right by the road or by parking places. Parking, like riding, we should be separated from motors, IMHO

Are you worrying about the common incompetent motorists or the rarer thief parking a van beside it to obscure their nefarious attacks?

Both, I try not to leave my machine in isolation. Left it in a dark corner last winter, the front wheel was stolen. Now I lock front AND back wheels. Kerbs are good if high enough so that one can not drive over them

[XAP]Bob wrote:Church, so neither (but commercial is more similar in terms of usage)

Note that we have me (on trike/bent) and families with trailers...

So slightly different usage (current architects plans have bikes sharing handlebars )

One reads a lot about redundant churches, why is a new one planned? I understand your logo shows a glass of communion wine

To accommodate and facilitate growth, to serve the community we are in and because 45+ years into the 25 year design life of the current building (parts of it anyway) it needs replacing...

I don't read about many redundant churches actually...