Movares created a high-quality bicycle parking area in the historic House Modernes building, providing space for 900 bicycles. Upon entering, visitors are greeted with a fresh and modern environment. Anne den Bok, project leader for the municipality of Utrecht, states: “Everything has been carefully considered: it has a sleek design, is very bright, and easy to navigate. This is the first facility where we have a beautiful and clear division between cargo bicycles, bicycles with a crate, and city bicycles.”

Bike Parking with High-Quality Appeal

In the heart of Utrecht, once stood the department store of Georges Couvreur – the French Bazaar. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the store’s renaming to Galeries Modernes. Now, in 2021, the building has been completely transformed into a space for offices, shops, and hospitality, topped off with a bicycle parking facility that reflects the same high-quality experience as House Modernes.

Focus on Social Safety

The key themes of the bicycle parking facility are tranquility, clarity, and a high-quality appearance with a strong emphasis on social safety, as the facility is open in the evening and sometimes even at night. Every color has been carefully selected, from the coating on the floor to the various LED lights. It is truly designed with the user in mind. Cyclists can easily find their way through the facility. Where all the colors are light, the area for the staff stands out in blue; this makes it recognizable for cyclists, and the staff has a magnificent view from this central spot. The restrooms are also located here, providing optimal attention to social safety.”

Intuitive Routing

 The main aisle has a lowered ceiling, which helps with the intuitive routing through the facility. The ceilings above the other aisles are not lowered. Cyclists enter via the ramp and naturally find their way to either the area for regular bicycles or the space for cargo and box bicycles. There is room for 770 city bicycles, 163 bicycles with a crate, and 14 cargo bicycles. The digital information system shows how many spaces are still available in the facility, which enhances the cyclists’ experience. This state-of-the-art bike parking facility not only enhances the urban landscape but also sets a new standard for sustainable and user-friendly infrastructure.