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• Hoofdstukken

  • 1. Free parking underneath Groningen train station square
  • 2. History
  • 3. Location
  • 4. A bicycle-free station square
  • 5. Accessible nature on sides
  • 6. Abundant light
  • 7. Transparent
  • 8. Bike path through the parking facility
  • 9. Multi-level stands with pull-out groove
  • 10. 24-hour supervision
  • 11. Removing abandoned bicycles
  • 12. Retrieving a bicycle
  • 13. Bicycle tower

• 1. Free parking underneath Groningen train station square

  

  Groningen, Stationsplein, Stadsbalkon. At the Groningen train station square an underground parking facility has been constructed for over 4,000 bicycles. On top of the parking a large bicycle-free square has been created. Cyclists have free use of the parking facility, which has been provided with permanent supervision. Building costs are approximately 10 million Euro.

• 2. History

  

  Construction of Stadsbalkon started in August of 2006. There was a great shortage of parking spaces. At ground level and in a ‘bicycle tower’ approx. 2,000 bicycle parking spaces were available. Moreover, the new bicycle parking facility was to contribute to the beautification of the station environment, where parked bicycles were dominant features. Stadsbalkon was festively opened on June 7, 2007

• 3. Location

  

  Stadsbalkon is right in front of the historic station building. It is hard to envision a better location for a bicycle parking facility. The pedestrian route towards the town centre (by way of Museumbrug) passes diagonally over the roof of the parking facility. Right across the parking facility runs an east-west bicycle route. In order to make room for the new parking facility and a square the bus station has been compacted. Next to Stadsbalkon there is a guarded NS bicycle parking facility, with 2700 spaces and the usual parking fees.

• 4. A bicycle-free station square

  

  The entire design is by KCAP architects in Rotterdam. They created on Stadsbalkon an empty (and bicycle-free) square. At the lowest point (where the diagonal pedestrian route to the town centre lies), circular benches have been placed, surrounding enormous light shafts in the roof of the parking facility. The east and west sides of the square are sloped. There trees grow through the light shafts. The slopes are intentionally empty: no benches etc.
  

• 5. Accessible nature on sides

  

  Thanks to the sloping sides the parking facility has an open nature on the east and west sides. This makes it accessible and inviting. The ‘ceiling’ is remarkably high, contributing to the accessible nature. At the sides of the parking facility no multi-level stands have been used for now. This is however quite feasible, thanks to the high ceiling.

• 6. Abundant light

  

  In order to allow as much daylight as possible into the parking facility, several large apertures have been cut into the ceiling, as well as a large number of smaller light shafts. In addition lighting has been installed in the walls.

• 7. Transparent

  

  In order to preserve transparency in the parking facility thick pillars have been avoided. The roof rests instead on a large number of slender columns that have been placed at a slight angle for a more nonchalant impression.

• 8. Bike path through the parking facility

  

  The bike path running east-west through the parking facility provides some action. In order to reduce speeds a kind of bicycle roundabout has been constructed in the middle of the parking facility. Officially mopeds are not allowed to use the bike path through the parking facility (but in actual practice this does occur nevertheless).

• 9. Multi-level stands with pull-out groove

  

  In a large part of the bicycle parking facility multi-level stands with pull-out grooves have been used. This makes it easier to park a bicycle at height. The type of multi-level stand used, however, does not possess a gas spring, making pushing back the groove quite hard work. At the sides no multi-level stands have been used, just high-low systems. The parking facility only allows bicycles to be parked that fit in the stands. Carrier tricycles, reclining bicycles and such are referred to the NS parking facility.

• 10. 24-hour supervision

  

  The parking facility has 24-hour supervision. As a matter of principle there are always three supervisors. Supervision is partly funded from parking fees. The supervisors oversee correct use of the parking facility, assist cyclists in finding a free spot and retrieving their bicycles. The supervision proves to be an effective bicycle-theft deterrent as well. According to police records the number of reported thefts fell from 6 to 1 or 2 a day.

• 11. Removing abandoned bicycles

  

  The facility has a maximum parking policy of 28 days. The supervisors check the parking duration by placing a sticker on all parked bicycles once a week, at night. The sticker is applied between the spokes. If the bicycle is used, the sticker is torn. Bicycles with four intact stickers are removed. Every month approx. 120 abandoned bicycles are removed in this way.

• 12. Retrieving a bicycle

  

  Quite regularly cyclists are unable to find their bicycle again. In order to facilitate retrieval, letters have been applied to the ceiling.

• 13. Bicycle tower

  

  Recently the number of parked bicycles near the train station has grown dramatically. From 2,000 in 2002 to 6,000 in 2007. Even before the formal opening all available spaces in Stadsbalkon have been taken on a regular basis. Reason enough for local authorities to keep the bicycle tower (1,000 spaces) in operation. The guarded NS parking facility (with the usual parking fees), on the other hand, does have a falling custom.