Methods of parking a bicycle

Bike parking variants

1. Horizontal bike parking

• Horizontal bike storage is when a bicycle is parked in a conventional upright position. Sheffield stands or high-density single-tier racks park bicycles in this position.

2. Vertical bike parking

• This method of storage positions a bicycle vertically, with the handlebars and front wheel facing upwards. With a stagger between each bicycle. Vertical or wall bike racks reduce the depth to that of a standard bicycles height and allows for parking in narrow spaces. Semi-vertical parking is also classed under this method of storage.

3. Two-tier bike parking

• Parking one bicycle above another is often the most space-efficient method of storage. Two-tier bike racks allow for the safe loading of one bicycle on to an upper-tier above another, for safe use a two-tier bike rack should include gas-lifting.
• This form of parking must allow for the required dimensions of a standard bicycle within the frame of the bike rack, or it will not be functional.

Staggering and high-low spacing

To allow for a higher-density of bike storage than the dimensions of a standard bicycle permits, a high-low stagger can be used to prevent handlebars clashing and reduce the centre to centre spacing between bicycles.

High-low spacing can be achieved by raising every other bicycle on a racking system, or the positioning of vertical racks on a wall.

Aisle widths, loading distances and height requirements

• To ensure bike storage positions are accessible, correct and adequate aisles and loading distances must be provided. Loading distances take into account the length of a bicycle and turning of the handlebars to move a bike into position.
• The loading distance begins at the end of the bike rack or parking bicycle if this extends further than the rack.

Horizontal and vertical bike storage

• 1500mm aisle distance should be provided to ensure full access.

Two-tier bike storage

• 2000mm of aisle distance should be provided for two-tier storage to allow for the lowering of the upper tier and loading of a bicycle.

Height requirements

Horizontal bike storage

• Turvec generally advise that horizontal parking should allow for clear standing height to be used safely.

Vertical bike storage

• The length of a bike determines the height requirement for vertical storage with room for manoeuvring, we advise no less than 2000mm. If bicycles are to be staggered to improve the capacity of a row of bikes, 2200mm of height is required to accommodate the high-low spacing.

Two-tier bike storage

• Two-tier bike storage has fixed height requirements to ensure all spaces are accessible. Two-tier bike racks have a high-low stagger between bicycle spaces on both tiers to maximise capacity, taking into account this stagger and the height of one parked bicycle above another, the minimum height to accommodate a two-tier bike rack is 2600mm.
• Any less than 2600mm is not suitable for two-tier bike storage with a stagger.