As cycling continues to grow in popularity, businesses and commercial developments are increasingly inclined to provide secure, accessible, and well-designed bike parking to meet the needs of employees, customers, and visitors. You might be one of them and wonder where to start and how to best plan your bike storage.
Several key factors must be considered to ensure a successful installation, whether planning bike storage for an office building, retail space, or transport hub. We have written a short guide that outlines the essential considerations for installing commercial bike parking helping architects, developers, and facility managers create effective cycling infrastructure.
Understanding User Needs
Before installing bike parking, it’s crucial to identify who will use it and their specific requirements. This is a solid starting point since your installation should really speak to your users; otherwise, it may end up being a wasted investment that is underused and inefficient.
Start by considering who your users will be. You might not want to cover the full spectrum and may wish to just include employees, for example, who require long-term, secure parking with weather protection and amenities like lockers and showers. The likelihood is that this type of employee parking will be used at a steady and predictable rate, so you can easily plan for it.
There might be a priority to provide for customers or visitors first. Their needs are slightly different from those of employees. While they also need secure and preferably weatherproof parking, their needs are short-term, and not providing shelter might not affect their satisfaction with the provided parking. Visitors and clients also need easy access near entrances to be noticed and convenient.
Alternatively, your top concern might be delivery riders, who are increasingly common and would benefit from convenient parking, especially in high-traffic areas where that might be a challenge.
Lastly, assess if you have users who already use e-bikes and might benefit from special bike storage with charging points. E-bikes are increasingly common, so even if you don’t immediately think you need to plan for them, be aware that you might need to do so in the future.
Choosing the Right Type of Bike Parking
Selecting the correct bike parking system depends on many factors, such as space availability, security needs, and ease of access. You must match the products you buy with the constraints of your location. We will give you a brief overview of common commercial parking options, but you can read more about them here.
Bike stands and racks are the two most popular types of storage. Simple and cost-effective solutions like the Sheffield Stand are a good choice for both short—and long-term parking. Many other floor-mounted models are available—some variations on the Sheffield and others with a more unique look.
Wall-mounted racks are another choice that can work for your space, depending on its layout. They can be space-saving for indoor parking rooms and typically have a lower price. However, they aren’t the most secure option, so we rarely recommend them for outdoor setups.
Another type is the semi-vertical and vertical racks, which provide angled storage to save space and are both very good for smaller areas. They can be used indoors and outdoors and provide easy access, but they come with a caveat that the user needs to be able to wheel the bike upwards bearing its weight, which might be hard for some people to do.
Two-tier bike racks offer a smart, space-saving solution that’s especially popular for storing two bicycles in the footprint of one. They’re ideal for a variety of settings, from compact areas that need to maximise capacity to large spaces with high volumes of bike users, such as offices, transport hubs, and dense urban environments.
Lastly, you can opt for bike lockers, which provide very high security for small numbers of bikes. They’re somewhat of a premium storage, which is great for high-risk areas or long-term storage.
Security & Theft Prevention
When deciding on the right type of cycle parking for your environment, security should be a top priority, as cyclists need confidence that their bikes will be protected.
When considering products, consider some best practices like strong racks, locking points, area setup, and additional security measures. Well-anchored and durable racks should ensure that you can use them for a long time and won’t break easily due to vandalism. When selecting a rack or stand, you should ideally look for multiple locking points for both the frame and wheel to provide good security. When installing your racks, ideally, you should place them in a high-visibility area with good lighting to deter theft while adding extra measures like surveillance cameras and periodic checks to enhance security.
Location & Accessibility
Bike parking should be easy to find, close to main entrances, and accessible to all users. Poorly located parking can discourage cyclists from using the facility, making your investment mute.
Locate your bike storage close to entrances, ideally within 50m of the main building, so that access is obvious and easy to navigate. To make sure your parking is easy to find, use signage to guide users to cycle parking areas and, if possible, avoid steps, narrow passageways, or barriers that make bike parking difficult to use and inaccessible.
Weather Protection
If indoors is not an option, then look for a place where you can set up an outdoor bike park. However, plan that it should protect bikes from rain, sun, and snow to improve user experience and extend bike and stand lifespan. This is easily achieved by a covered bike shelter. There are many options to choose from, and they can range from simple models just with a roof to more complicated fully covered ones with the additions of gates, lights, and varied options for stands and racks inside.
Capacity & Future Growth
Cycling habits are increasing, and demand for parking will grow over time. This is something you should plan for to ensure that future expansion is possible and shortages are avoided.
You can install racks that can easily be extended, like our two-tier bike racks, or allocate extra space for future growth and reserve said areas for additional bike parking. Make sure you get feedback from users regularly and monitor use to know whether more storage is needed.
Additional Amenities & Facilities
Once you are on the path to providing bike storage, you can do a lot more to promote cycling. Businesses can and should provide more than just parking to further improve their employee’s and customers’ experience of the premises. Extra amenities can enhance the cycling experience and attract more riders, which is why they are a must for anyone who has the space and ability to provide them.
You can enhance your cycling storage area by including repair or wash stations for quick fixes and maintenance. Lockers and showers are an excellent addition to an end-of-trip facility and can help people feel more confident about cycling. For more inspiration, we have an excellent and detailed guide on how to design the best bike-to-work facilities.
Investing in well-planned commercial bike parking is more than just a practical necessity—it’s a powerful way to support sustainable transportation, enhance user satisfaction, and future-proof your property. By carefully considering user needs, selecting the right type of storage, prioritising security, and planning for accessibility and future growth, businesses and developers can create facilities that truly serve their communities.
Whether you’re outfitting an office, a retail space, or a public hub, thoughtful bike parking design shows a commitment to modern, eco-conscious infrastructure. With the right approach, your investment can encourage more people to cycle, reduce congestion, and contribute to a healthier, more active urban environment.