Bikeloop gathered the real estate industry

PANEL DEBATE: Left to right, Eline Oftedal from the Cyclist Association, Richard Dirdal from Bikeloop, Vanessa Lagerkvist from Sirqel, Stian Eide Myhre from Fredensborg Bolig, and Nora Benedicte Brinchmann from Malling.

A lack of secure bicycle parking is a significant reason why many cyclists hesitate to bike to work or into the city. In a survey from the Cyclist Association, presented by Eline Oftedal, it was highlighted that poor bicycle parking is among the three biggest barriers to increasing the bicycle share in Norway.

– If we overlook the bad weather, secure bicycle parking is one of the biggest obstacles to increased bicycle use. Many cyclists are afraid to park their bike in an unsafe manner, which hinders people from using bicycles as a means of transportation, says Eline Oftedal, Secretary General of the Cyclist Association.

Capacity vs. security

One of the main challenges discussed during the breakfast meeting was the balance between capacity and quality of bicycle parking. In many cases, the requirements for the number of parking spaces take precedence over the need for high security in the solutions.

– There is a great need for secure bicycle parking, and this is increasingly pressured by tenants. The demand for capacity often comes at the expense of quality, but it is important that we maintain high standards to meet cyclists' needs for secure and practical parking, says Nora Benedicte Brinchmann, Senior Advisor and Partner at Malling.

Brinchmann also emphasized that there is increased focus on guest parking, especially in neighborhood offices, as an important part of making cities more bicycle-friendly.

New guide for better bicycle parking

Stian Eide Myhre, Head of Business Development and Sustainability at Fredensborg Bolig, shared his experiences with the development of bicycle parking. Fredensborg Bolig aims to develop at least 30,000 new bicycle parking spaces, but the question is whether they should be of high or low security.

– Requirements for capacity often come before security, but in collaboration with the Cyclist Association, we have developed a guide for better bicycle parking. This guide will help inform what constitutes a high standard for bicycle parking and, hopefully, lead to an increase in the quality of parking for cyclists, says Myhre.

The role of electric bicycles in bicycle parking

Vanessa Lagerkvist, CEO of Sirqel, also pointed out the growing importance of secure bicycle parking, especially for electric bicycles. With more customers replacing their second car with an electric bicycle, there is an increasing need for secure and accessible parking solutions for these cyclists.

– Electric bicycles can replace cars to a greater extent, and electric cyclists ride more year-round. Therefore, it is crucial to offer secure bicycle parking that meets both practical needs and provides protection against weather and theft, says Lagerkvist.

Bikeloop presents solutions for the future of bicycle parking

Bikeloop has developed concepts for larger bicycle parking facilities, which represent a growing challenge in the real estate industry. As more cities develop a need for large-scale bicycle parking, it is important to find solutions that are cost-effective, space-saving, user-friendly, and, above all, sustainable.

– Larger bicycle facilities with many bikes can be solved in a cost-effective and secure way, and we have developed concepts that combine all these factors. This is something we see demand for in the real estate industry, and we hope to contribute to more sustainable and secure bicycle parking in the future, says Richard Dirdal, CEO of Bikeloop.

The discussion between Bikeloop and the real estate industry has clarified the main challenges related to secure bicycle parking and has helped to focus on solutions that both increase capacity and ensure high security in parking. With the increasing demand for bicycle-friendly cities and transport solutions, collaboration between actors in both the bicycle and real estate industries will be crucial to creating secure and accessible bicycle parking solutions for the future.

SPEAKERS: Nora Benedicte Brinchmann, Senior Advisor and Partner at Malling and Richard Dirdal, CEO at  Bikeloop.

WELCOME: Mona Elisabeth Gladhus, Head of Marketing and Projects at Bikeloop.

PARKED THE BICYCLE SECURELY DURING THE BREAKFAST EVENT: Morten Sandberg from Akershus Public Transport Terminal FKF