Bike Rooms: No Longer an Afterthought

We’ve been in the bike parking biz for awhile now, over 22 years! Back in the day, “bike rooms” usually constituted nothing more than an afterthought. Like this, for example:
Bad bike room!
as Alta Planning likes to call it) provides long-term storage that’s protected from the elements. Additionally, bike rooms can be effectively retrofitted to spaces already in existence where outside parking is limited, and in some places, new developments are even required to provide indoor storage as an amenity to users. Architects, facility managers, building owners, and growing businesses have heard the demand for better bicycle parking facilities, and many now offer bike rooms in their multi-family residential and commercial spaces. Below are a few examples of bike rooms done right:

Businesses

This bike room in New York City combines both vertical and two-tier racks for optimal space-saving and accessibility. The lower tiers of the Dero Deckers are easily accessible for people whose bikes are too heavy to lift onto the Bike Files. Both of the racks provide additional security by being u-lock compatible.
Dero’s new facility provides ample employee bike parking. These Ultra Space Saver Squares keep the center aisle clear, and easily channels runoff from the bikes to a floor drain, which is necessary since our staff ride to work year-round.Student Housing
BikeRoom2xUniversities frequently advertise bike storage rooms as desirable features to prospective students, whether in campus housing, transit stations, or other facilities. Above is a colorful Minneapolis bike room located on street level, making it easy for residents to access with a quick swipe of a keycard. Another example is Portland State University’s Bike Hub, which offers a subscription service for secured indoor bike parking to its students.
Transit Hubs
In LA, the Metro BikeHub provides a mini-service station with 24-hour controlled access.
dd-union-depot-01xThe Union Depot in St. Paul, MN offers long-term bike parking in a secured room. The depot is a central hub for multimodal commuters traveling in and around the Twin Cities. Union Depot included additional amenities, such as a Dero Fixit repair stand, benches, and lockers. These additional design elements contribute to a holistic approach to addressing bike commuters’ needs.Residences dd-uss-orange-01x Bike racks are often chosen to maximize the number of bikes that can be parked, often using 2-tier or vertical bike storage systems. The Schmidt Artist Lofts in St. Paul, MN chose Dero Deckers and Ultra Space Savers for their bike room. They even provide a bike washing stall.[/caption]

Additional Resources

bike-parking-guide-01