Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

In recent years many cities have seen an increase in bicycle traffic. This is a development that benefits both the environment and the individual cyclist. When the need for bicycle parking is not met several problems arise such as an increase in bicycle thefts, jammed sidewalks and a decreased interest in using bicycles. My aim with this paper has been to answer the question of how to create parking facilities in an urban environment based on cyclists' needs. Through a literature survey, following the method "Trattmodellen" (the funnel model) the question has been answered and divided under the headings cyclist, bike, bicycle racks, bicycle garage and bicycle operators and hosts. Cyclists want to park in a secure bike rack near their destination point, a distance of 25 meters is optimal. Front wheel holding racks are easy to park in but provide little security. A frame holding bike rack affords greater security but at the cost of intuitiveness. There are also racks that combine front wheel and frame holding. All racks can be combined with canopies for protection from precipitation, this raises the rack's status significantly. Bicycle Hosts can, by clearing away scrap bicycles in bicycle racks and making the streets tidy, also contribute to a higher status. At stations and nodes a bicycle garage can be needed. In addition to indoor parking, a garage can also provide services such as showers, a repair shop and a café. The main conclusion of this work is that there is a relationship between the duration for which the bike is parked, the distance the cyclist is willing to walk from the parking area to the target point and the requirement for secure bicycle racks. Based on this connection bicycle parking can be planned with various types of bicycle racks at various distances so that all cyclist's needs are met. Solving the bicycle parking issue will lead to an increase in bicycle traffic. However, to drastically increase bicycle traffic on the expense of car traffic more is required. Apart from bicycle parking we need a change in attitude, both in society at large and among planning and creative landscape architects.