Urban Transport

World's largest underground bike parking center nears completion

World's largest underground bike parking center nears completion
The world’s largest bicycle parking center is located under the Utrecht Centraal Railway Station, and is due for completion this year
The world’s largest bicycle parking center is located under the Utrecht Centraal Railway Station, and is due for completion this year
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The enormous project is part of a grand scale redevelopment of the Utrecht Central station in the Netherlands
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The enormous project is part of a grand scale redevelopment of the Utrecht Central station in the Netherlands
The three story bicycle parking center will be built directly below the station’s public square
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The three story bicycle parking center will be built directly below the station’s public square
Three concrete columns supporting the giant canopy extend all the way down into the parking
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Three concrete columns supporting the giant canopy extend all the way down into the parking
The project is an example of how cities can accommodate a growing number of cyclists
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 The project  is an example of how cities can accommodate a growing number of cyclists
Three giant concrete canopies lead the cyclists into the park
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Three giant concrete canopies lead the cyclists into the park
The bike-park is designed to offer cyclists convenience, speed and safety
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The bike-park is designed to offer cyclists convenience, speed and safety
Bike park plans by Ector Hoogstad Architects
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Bike park plans by Ector Hoogstad Architects
Bike park plans by Ector Hoogstad Architects
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Bike park plans by Ector Hoogstad Architects
The project boasts an innovative layout that manages the flow of both pedestrians and cyclists
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The project  boasts an innovative layout that manages the flow of both pedestrians and cyclists
The facility is designed to offer cyclists convenience, speed and safety
10/23
The facility  is designed to offer cyclists convenience, speed and safety
The layout allows cyclists to ride straight into the facility, with lanes weaving through the structure
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The layout allows cyclists to ride straight into the facility, with lanes weaving through the structure 
The user-friendly project includes the construction of a multi-story bicycle parking center
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The user-friendly project includes the construction of a multi-story bicycle parking center
These trumpet-shaped elements have a diameter of 5 meters at floor level
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These trumpet-shaped elements have a diameter of 5 meters at floor level
The user-friendly project caters for a world record capacity of over 12,500 bikes
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 The user-friendly project caters for a world record capacity of over 12,500 bikes
A series of large windows and glass skylights will allow natural light to filter down through the bike park
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A series of large windows and glass skylights will allow natural light to filter down through the bike park
The walls are color-coded to show the different routes
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The walls are color-coded to show the different routes
The world’s largest bicycle parking center is located under the Utrecht Centraal Railway Station, and is due for completion this year
17/23
The world’s largest bicycle parking center is located under the Utrecht Centraal Railway Station, and is due for completion this year
Lanes accommodate fast and fluid entry and exit in both directions
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Lanes accommodate fast and fluid entry and exit in both directions
Similar to modern car parks, a digital system will direct cyclists to available parking spots
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Similar to modern car parks, a digital system will direct cyclists to available parking spots
The overall concept, aesthetic and usability of the facility is designed to invite more people to ride bikes
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The overall concept, aesthetic and usability of the facility is designed to invite more people to ride bikes 
The project, which started construction in 2017, is set to reach completion later this year
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The project, which started construction in 2017, is set to reach completion later this year
The facility will have plenty of staff on hand to assist cyclists if needed
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 The facility will have plenty of staff on hand to assist cyclists if needed 
Uses will be able to pay for the bike parking by scanning their public transport pass to save time
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 Uses will be able to pay for the bike parking by scanning their public transport pass to save time
View gallery - 23 images

Rotterdam-based studio Ector Hoogstad Architects is behind the creation of the world's largest bicycle parking center. The enormous project is part of a grand scale redevelopment of the Utrecht Centraal Railway Station in the Netherlands and boasts an innovative layout that manages the flow of both pedestrians and cyclists.

The user-friendly project includes the construction of a multi-story bicycle parking hub, which caters for a world record capacity of over 12,500 bikes. The project, which started construction in 2017, is set to reach completion later this year and is an example of how cities can accommodate a growing number of cyclists.

The project, which started construction in 2017, is set to reach completion later this year
The project, which started construction in 2017, is set to reach completion later this year

"Historically, the Dutch have always been fervent cyclists," says Ector Hoogstad Architects. "This enthusiasm is now growing even further as cycling is being discovered as a key ingredient of the sustainable city. New bicycle typologies such as the introduction of the so-called e-bike are helping to amplify this shift in mass transportation. More and more public transport hubs will be complemented with extensive and user friendly amenities for cyclists, as increasing amounts of people begin to favor the combination of cycling and public transport over car use."

The user-friendly project includes the construction of a multi-story bicycle parking center
The user-friendly project includes the construction of a multi-story bicycle parking center

The three story bicycle parking center is located directly below the station's public square and is designed to offer cyclists convenience, speed and safety. The layout therefore allows cyclists to ride straight into the facility, with lanes weaving through the structure to accommodate a fast and fluid entry and exit in both directions.

Similar to modern car parks, a digital system will direct cyclists to available parking spots and the walls are color-coded to indicate the different routes. Uses can pay for the bike parking by scanning their public transport pass to save time and the facility will have plenty of staff on hand to assist cyclists if needed. There will also be a bike repair shop and bicycle rental outlet available.

"The building is more than just infrastructure," explains Ector Hoogstad Architects. "It adds an exciting and surprising architectural dimension to the city. Cycling through the garage has become a unique experience; not just another part of everyday life in the city, but almost an attraction in its own right."

The facility is designed to offer cyclists convenience, speed and safety
The facility  is designed to offer cyclists convenience, speed and safety

The structure is built using concrete, steel and wood and includes three giant concrete canopies that lead the cyclists into the park. A series of large windows and glass skylights will allow natural light to filter down through the bike-park, coupled with LED lighting throughout.

The overall concept, aesthetic and usability of the facility is designed to invite more people to ride bikes as their main form of transport, reducing the city's CO2 emissions.

"The environment is one of the development's starting points: the bike-park is built to seduce more inhabitants and commuters to use bicycles and public transport instead of cars," says the firm. "This behavioral change reduces CO2 emissions by up to 95 percent. Utrecht profits in many ways: a better public space with a spectacular bike-parking and moreover space for commercial development."

The video below highlights how the bike-park will work.

Source: Ector Hoogstad Architects

Grootste fietsenstalling ter wereld: Utrecht Centraal : worlds largest bicycle parking facility

View gallery - 23 images
5 comments
5 comments
paul314
The multimodal part is key. Commuters can come into town without using a car, then have access to rapid last-meter transport all day.
McDesign
I'd be interested in the pitch and length of the ramps between floors - either steep-ish and tricky, or shallow and space-consuming, it would seem.
joeblake
Can't see anything that will allow parking for velomobiles/ recumbent tricycles. Just diamond frame uprights.
TomLeeM
I think that is really neat. I agree, it would be great if there was able to hold bigger bikes like recumbent trikes, trikes, and other bigger than normal bikes (perhaps have a way to charge e-bikes).
TrevorG
There is no need to ride into the garage. It can be much more compact than that. If it were just a heavy duty version of the clothes conveyor you see at the dry cleaners, one attendant could run the operation.