Bicycle racks have become very modern these days; this was not always the case. The history of bicycle parking, from bicycle rack to advanced parking with charging points, shows what an evolution bicycle parking has gone through. Thanks to various innovations, bicycle parking has improved significantly in various ways. In this blog we tell you more about this evolution. We take you back to the early years of the bike rack and the step that followed: covered bike parking. Then we will tell you more about the most recent innovations, including bike racks with charging points for e-bikes.
The early years of bike racks
The first variant of the bicycle, the balance bike, was developed in 1817. In 1885, the forerunner of the city bicycle was produced. Soon it was impossible to imagine the streets in the Netherlands without the bicycle. Especially during the 1920s, the number of bicycles increased steadily: two million in total. More and more people had bicycles, so there was also an increasing need for places to park bicycles.
Exactly who invented the bike rack is not known. However, there were soon different variants of bike racks in which people could park their bikes. In the early days, these were still single-level bike racks. The Sheffield rack is a good example. Nowadays, we also see more and more double-layer bike racks. Because they can be parked above and below, the capacity is doubled. In addition, bike racks have also been developed for outdoor models such as transport and crate bikes. There is constant innovation in the field of bicycle racks.
Covered bicycle shelters protected from wind and weather
Soon after the development of the first bicycle rack, bicycle shelters and storage facilities were developed. In 1938, the first underground bicycle shed was built in Utrecht. In this way, bicycles could now be better protected from bad weather and theft. At the beginning of the 20th century, many Dutch railway stations already had their own bicycle sheds.
Even in the field of bicycle parking, innovation continues. Where it once started with a bicycle roof, today there are entire bicycle sheds that are completely enclosed. This offers optimal protection against precipitation, wind, theft and vandalism. A CuBic bike shed is a good example of a bike shed that is modern. This multi-purpose shed is ideal for storing bicycles. Perhaps this bike shed is for your business?
Bicycle racks with charging stations
Today, bicycle parking is modern. People have continued to innovate. Moreover, a new trend had to be taken into account: the rise of the e-bike. There were plans for electric bicycles as early as the end of the 19th century, and the first Dutch electric bicycle was developed by the Philips Physics Laboratory in 1930.
Since battery technology was significantly improved at the beginning of the 21st century, we see electric bicycles more and more in the Dutch streetscape. In recent years, more than half of all bicycles sold are e-bikes. It is therefore not surprising that bicycle racks had to be developed that take this into account. Therefore, in recent years both bike racks and bicycle shelters are increasingly equipped with charging points for e-bikes. Another innovation is the charging locker, in which people can safely store their bicycle batteries. You can come to us for these types of service products.
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Klaver bicycle parking moves with the innovations in the field of bicycle racks and bicycle parking. With us, you will discover the best bicycle parking solutions for your business. These proven solutions will boost your company’s bicycle culture. The more people take their bikes, the more they exercise and the better their health will be. Your employees will feel better and experience less stress. Such a positive impact bicycle-friendly infrastructure can have in the workplace. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to request a free quote.
