Guidelines for the Planning and Construction of Bicycle Parking Garages at Train Stations

Challenge addressed: Rising demand for secure, convenient bicycle parking facilities

The Guidelines for Planning and Construction of Bicycle Parking Garages were developed by the ‘Service Point Bicycle Parking’, created by Deutsche Bahn on behalf of the German government. They respond to rising cycling rates and the need for secure, convenient parking to support sustainable, intermodal mobility. It anticipates future mobility demands based on a study from 2019, which found that stations in Germany will need about 1.5 million additional bicycle parking spaces by 2030. Nevertheless, plans for new parking facilities often fail due to a lack of expertise, limited planning resources, or funding. The Guidelines address this challenge by providing a structured step-by-step guide for local planners and decision makers, including recommendations from a user-centric approach, best-practice examples, and information on funding.

Solution implemented: Step-by-step guide for planners and decision makers

The guidelines provide practical recommendations for planning and building modern bicycle parking facilities at stations. They compile knowledge on user needs, positive impacts, and best practice examples on the national and international level. This is complemented by a step-by-step guide for municipalities and useful information on available funding and further sources. In addition, the ‘Service Point Bicycle Parking’ has developed tools for the calculation of costs and the anticipated impact of bicycle parking facilities for municipalities. Designed to inspire and guide planners and decision makers, the guidelines promote secure, weather protected and well located parking to strengthen intermodal mobility.
 

Results achieved: High quality bicycle parking facilities can rise bike-to-station trips by ~17 % per person

By highlighting both qualitative and quantitative impacts of improving bicycle parking at railway stations, the Guidelines on the Planning and Construction of Bicycle Parking Garages provide planners and decision makers with a strong basis for argumentation and practical instructions. 
Based on two digital user surveys in 2021 and 2022, the ‘Service Point Bicycle Parking’ proved that high quality bicycle parking at stations measurably increases combined bike and train use and shifts trips away from cars. The surveys show that secure, covered, well lit, and conveniently located facilities encourage more frequent cycling to stations, especially for regular commuters and for longer access distances. After implementation of new and modern parking facilities, about one third of surveyed users reported cycling to the station more often, and the overall number of bike to station trips rose by around 17 percent per person per year. Many of these additional trips replace previous walking, local public transport, and car trips, which reduces emissions and saves travel costs and time. To fully unlock the potential of bicycle-train intermodality, direct and secure connecting cycle lanes and reliable public transport services are crucial. 
In addition, the 'Service Point Bicycle Parking' has developed two online tools that allow municipalities to calculate the individual costs and benefits of bicycle parking facilities before the concrete planning phase. Based on the municipality's individual parameters, the calculator assesses the anticipated reduction in carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases, as well as health benefits.
This practice is considered good because it addresses the entire door to door mobility chain: short walking distances between parking and platforms, good connections to cycling networks, and user oriented design and services improve accessibility, comfort, and security, and have demonstrably led to more trips made as combined bike and train journeys.
 

Lessons learned: Guidelines help to pool expertise and save resources

The Guidelines for Planning and Building Bicycle Parking Garages at Train Stations summarize insights from national and international best practice examples, provide step-by-step guidelines with an integrated cost and benefit calculator for municipalities, and useful information that can be adapted to other regional contexts.
Core Learnings & Recommendations:
Quantity before Quality: Insufficient parking spaces are the top complaint of users, driving low satisfaction. Start by rapidly closing capacity gaps – especially at high-demand stations – using simple, covered solutions like double-deck racks. Only then expand secure, access-controlled facilities.
Seamless Mobility Chain: Garages alone are insufficient; they must integrate into a complete door-to-door journey. Provide safe, direct cycle lanes, short walks to platforms, and reliable rail services. Enhanced networks enable faster, more comfortable cycling, expanding station catchments, and shifting trips from cars.
Repurpose Existing Spaces: Converting underused car parks or vacant buildings near stations is often faster and cheaper, freeing space for multimodal use.
Stakeholder Consensus: Involve citizens, users, operators, and authorities early to align visions and ensure broad support for implementation.
Human Centered Design: Build for people, not just bikes: bright, intuitive, welcoming atmospheres that upgrade station precincts, symbolise sustainable mobility and employ eco-friendly methods.
Security for Value: Use CCTV, staff, and electronic access controls to protect high-end bikes, boosting willingness to cycle to stations.
Multifunctional Hubs: Integrate repair workshops, lockers, and sharing-services to enhance usability and attractiveness.
 

Cross Links

Contact: Infostelle Fahrradparken am Bahnhof (Service Point Bicycle Parking)

DB InfraGO AG

Internet: www.radparken.info

Produced in behalf of: 

Bundesministerium für Verkehr (Federal Ministry of Transport)

Internet: www.bmv.bund.de 

Publications: https://radparken.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/webversion-15-09-23-radparken-leitfaden2023.pdf