There are A LOT of stuff I need to sort out here. This post serves as an index to the following subjects:
1) Bicycle racks and parking stations precedents around the world, especially in the Netherlands and Japan. Videos and articles.
2) Information about Ottawa’s cycling existing conditions and problems, coming mainly from a conversation with two bicycle store managers.
3) Site analysis for suggested site for a bicycle parking island – World Exchange Plaza.
So here goes.
1) Precedents around the world.
Videos:
David Byrne’s Bike Racks - Interesting take on possible aesthetics for bike racks.
EDUCATORIUM - REM KOOLHAAS - an education complex in the Netherlands with a large bicycle storange in its basement.
Amsterdam: The Bicycling Capitol of Europe - showing an exceptionally large bicycle parking station and general information about Dutch cycling culture – use of simple and cheap bikes is prefer and cyclist must pass a test to get a licance.
Free guarded bicycle storage at the railway station – Zutphen, The Netherlands - rails attached to the stairs for easy access for bicycles – 20% slope make it easy to climb out. Double tier storage. Extra security zone is available as well. Cameras record activity in the entire complex. Square outside remains “bicycle free”.
Veloglide Bicycle Storage - bicycles suspended from hooks attached to an adjustable rail on the ceiling. Doesn’t fit public lockup of bikes but may be used if designed differently.
How to store bikes and many other items - garage storage lifts items to the ceiling. Doesn’t fit public lockup and requires mechanical power. May inspire designes though.
tokyo bicycle parking tower - an automated system that drives bikes to a cylindrical storage unit. Looks likes an Anime cartoon – very cool but how much energy is being wasted?
A New Way to Park Bicycles.. Hang them in a Bike Tree! - gets bikes out of the way in an elegent way that protects the bikes and also provides shade. Concave base design may be used in non-mechanical designs as well to help lift a wheel by pushing it on the concave surface. But again – doesn’t the energy consumption in the tree kinda defeats the purpose?
Vertical Bicycle Parking - perhaps the most elegenst solution of them all. Easy to use and reduces storage space. In North America, where bikes are sometimes very expensive the rack should be fastened to the ground, but that can be easily done if screw holes are prepared in advance. This way the rack can be disassembled and put on a track without any use of crane. Also, since many women in Ottawa stated that they do not like to life their bicycle to a rack (according to the store managers I spoke to), an improved design should create an alternative solution that doesn’t involve lifting (like a ramp, similar to the concave base of the bike tree).
StreetsFilms – on Street Bike Parking Portland. OR - this is precisely what our project demands actually. The parking platform is sitting on one and a half parking spots on the street and accomodate 13 bikes. It is painted reflective yellow to caution cars. The project was very successful.
ASCOBIKE: Largest Bicycle Parking Facility in the Americas - uses hooks that bikes can be vertically hung from to save space.
Seiyu Kichijoji facade bicycle parking - another mechanized system
Transparent bicycle parking machine – Apeldoorn, Holland - a facility in holland sorrounded by windows that let the bicycles create a certain exterior aesthetic
Bicycle Parking Problems in Utrecht, Netherlands - The most inexpensive solution, using regular racks under an overhang of a building. Bicycle damage will probably occur as people remove their bikes from the crowded racks. Notice the difference between the streets of Holland and those of Ottawa.
And last but not least
bike parking - heh
Pictures:
Amsterdam bike complex - and this
Articles:
2) Information about Ottawa’s cycling conditions.
Two managers from Tall Tree bicycle store on Richmond:
- Ottawa has the second largest percentage of cyclists per capita in Canada, after Victoria.
- The main hubs for cyclists are Tunnies Pasture, Downtown core, and potentially the renovated Parkdale Market.
- During the winter the number of cyclists drop by 80%. Non the less, there are more than a few bikers out there.
- linear crowded racks cause damage to bicycles as users pull their vehicle and scratch other bikes. Curved or circular racks solve this problem. A good example is bike trees.
- There is a substantial number of women who state they will not lift their bikes to a vertical rack. This might be solved by creating easier devices for lifting, possibly using machinery as well.
Recycle Bicycle on Bronson
Recycle bicycle is a volunteer organization that promotes cycling and bicycle repair skills in Ottawa. Their most important resource as far as this project goes is a pile of scrap parts, mainly frames and wheel rims, lying at their basement. This scrap material is available for free and can be used to construct elements in the bike parking station.
Ottawa Bicycle Club
- There is a strong need for bicycle parking opportunities around town due to parking meters removal.
- Parking high end bikes on the street is not safe. U locks are pretty much a must even with parking meters.
- For tube dispansers there are two types of valves being used.
3) Chosen site – World Exchange Centre
Metcalf st. and Albert st (transitway).
The site was recommended by the store managers who told me it serves as a hub for bicycle messengers. When i got there I found a couple of messengers smoking under the LCBO overhang and spoke to one of them. He told me the place acted as a meeting place for messengers in the past 10 years.
In an article in Mumentum Magazine (cyclist publication) there was an article called “Messengers Are Public Space Magnets” saying how messengers encourage the use of public space. I think that’s a good direction to base the project on.
Forevergreen Report Card of the World Exchange (statistics and information)
Ottawa’s World Exchange Plaza – a Hidden Gem
Here’re some pics of how the site looks like in the winter, day and night time:
January 9, 2010 at 6:36 pm |
nice post rotem