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• Hoofdstukken

  • 1. Free guarded parking facility underneath Zutphen train station square
  • 2. Planning process
  • 3. Lay-out
  • 4. Subjects for debate
  • 5. Centrale entrance
  • 6. Staircase capacity
  • 7. To the trains
  • 8. No elevator
  • 9. Manager’s office
  • 10. Camera supervision
  • 11. The guarded area
  • 12. Multi-level stands with gas springs
  • 13. Incidence of light on central staircase
  • 14. Incidence of light on the edges
  • 15. Curved aisles
  • 16. Numbered aisles
  • 17. No parking allowed
  • 18. Funding

• 1. Free guarded parking facility underneath Zutphen train station square

  

  Zutphen, Stationsplein, free guarded parking facility. In October of 2006 the town of Zutphen opened the first free guarded NS parking facility in the Netherlands. Underneath the station square an ideal parking facility has been constructed for 3,000 bicycles. At ground level a beautiful pedestrian area has been created. The parking was designed by S2 Architecten, Benthuizen.

• 2. Planning process

  

  Local authorities in Zutphen had two objectives in mind. On the one hand a nice entrance to the historic town centre, on the other optimal parking facilities for train passengers. Initially a traditional solution was aimed at: free parking at ground level and built-in guarded parking. Gradually the free & guarded option gained ground. It is nicer to have everything built-in, but that requires supervision. This blurs the difference between guarded and unguarded. In order to prevent underutilization of the guarded part, it was decided to make everything free of charge.

• 3. Lay-out

  

  The entrance stairs are located in the middle of the parking facility. To the left is room for approximately 1,640 bicycles. This part is open to all and is supervised by cameras. To the right is the area with automated entry (approx. 1,360 bicycles). Below the stairs is room for approximately 40 mopeds and bikes that do not fit the stands. A second staircase leads directly to the concourse.

• 4. Subjects for debate

  

  Five subjects for debate played a crucial role in the planning process. First of all, naturally, the distribution of costs. In addition to that: 2) presence or absence of reinforcement in the roof structure in connection to emergency vehicles on the square, 3) length and capacity of the stairs, 4) direct access to the concourse, 5) presence or absence of elevator for elderly and handicapped.
  These last three subjects will be clarified here.

• 5. Centrale entrance

  

  Coming from Zutphen town centre, the parking facilities are easily found, but a reason to dismount. The central entrance is a 4.7-metre wide staircase with four grooves. The staircase bridges a 3.3-metre height difference, with a gradient of 20 per cent. This presents no problem to most customers. Sometimes one hand is enough to control the bike.

• 6. Staircase capacity

  

  Although 4 grooves are present, only 2 or 3 are used at the same time, since most people are right-handed. Capacity, however, turns out to be amply sufficient. During morning peak hour approximately 700 cyclists use the staircase in 30 minutes (450 arriving, 250 leaving). The train schedule assists in efficient use of the staircase. All trains arrive at approximately the same time and leave within 10 minutes. As a result, large numbers of cyclists arrive in the basement and somewhat later large numbers leave in turn. There is some delay, as students tend to hang around outside near the entrance, before leaving as a group..

• 7. To the trains

  

  An important improvement realised in the planning stage, is direct access from the parking facility to the concourse. Originally a staircase to the station square had been planned (see picture at 5). The direct access is not only faster for train passengers, it also prevents cyclists hampering each other and greatly improves the incidence of light.

• 8. No elevator

  

  Up until the opening accessibility for the elderly and handicapped has been a point for debate. Due to high construction costs it was decided to forego an elevator. In the end a creative solution was found. Part of the old parking facility has been adapted to mobility scooters and several bikes. This space can be accessed from the concourse. Regular users receive a tag (key), incidental visitors may enlist the aid of the manager.
  

• 9. Manager’s office

  

  The manager’s office has a central location in the parking facility, with a good view of the central staircase. All customers pass this office twice. Local authorities intend to have two supervisors on duty at all times, during the day in combination with the bike shop in the parking facility.

• 10. Camera supervision

  

  Forty camera’s have been installed in the ceiling. As soon as a camera detects movement, the images are stored. Almost immediately the camera system proved to be useful. Soon after opening a bike was stolen from the free, supervised area. The stored video images clearly show how the thief searches the stands for a bike with an easily cracked lock. The video images have been transferred to a SUB-stick and handed to the police.

• 11. The guarded area

  

  Part of the parking facility has extra security in the form of automated controlled access. Only cyclists with a pass (free as well, but upon payment of a caution) have access to this area. The size of this extra-secure area can easily be adjusted by relocating the railings. The flexibility has proven to be useful. Within the very first year the extra-secure area has been reduced in size, as it was used less often than expected. It appears that cyclists see the controlled accesses as an extra barrier.
  
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• 12. Multi-level stands with gas springs

  

  To allow efficient use of the relatively expensive space, multi-level stands have been used, allowing bikes to be parked in two layers. Within each layer, a high-low arrangement occurs as well. This allows bikes to be parked in closer proximity without interference by the handlebars. This type of multi-level stand has telescopic slide-out grooves with gas springs, making lifting of the bike less of an effort.

• 13. Incidence of light on central staircase

  

  A good incidence of light is very important for underground bicycle parking facilities. Many people dislike the feeling of being in a basement. Particularly due to the central staircase with glass walls the incidence of light in the Zutphen parking facility is generous.

• 14. Incidence of light on the edges

  

  On the outer edges of the parking facility the architect cunningly added an extra opportunity for extra daylight. The roof of the parking facility is a little above ground level. The raised edge created in this way has been fitted with a kind of translucent ‘opal glass’.

• 15. Curved aisles

  

  The aisles are slightly curved, providing a more playful and accessible character to the parking facility.

• 16. Numbered aisles

  

  The aisles have been numbered, making it easier to remember where you parked your bike. Other parking facilities and parking garages for cars have used different colours (on floors or columns) for the various aisles. The architect would, however, not agree to a solution with various colours.

• 17. No parking allowed

  

  After completion of the bicycle parking the local regulations have been changed and now read that no bicycle may be parked in the station square (and will be removed). The few remaining stands (in front of the tourist office) may only be used for 30-minute parking. Local authorities spent a lot of attention on communication (all bicycles were labelled twice, a promotional team distributed flyers, etc.) The combination of a perfect parking facility and a parking ban have indeed led to an almost bicycle-free square.

• 18. Funding

  

  This Zutphen innovation required prolonged negotiations. Local authorities used all kinds of funds for the reconstruction of the station area. Overall costs are over 12 million Euro, half of which for the parking facility. The parking has mainly been paid for by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (program Ruimte voor de Fiets; 3.6 million) and Zutphen itself (1.9 million). Local authorities also pay 250,000 Euro annually to NS for the management of the parking facility.