Wobbly old steel Sheffield stands on the corner of a desolate car park aren’t particularly exciting. However, Cyclehoop don’t deal in your regular run of the mill bike parking. They create cycle parking solutions out of existing objects available in urban areas.
The city of New York has recently signed a contract worth $2 million to double the number of bike parking spaces in the city, by adopting the Cyclehoop design.
If you live in London there is a good chance you have come across Cyclehoop Ltd without even realising. The London based company specialise in producing innovative cycle parking solutions -many of their designs have been utilised by local authorities and private companies across the city.
As with all the best ideas, Cyclehoop Ltd started with a problem. Way back in the mid 2000’s product designer and subsequent founder Anthony Lau had his bike stolen; it had been lifted straight over a sign post!
Inspired and incensed he went away and created the ‘Cyclehoop’. The handy design allowed existing signposts to be converted into secure cycle parking for 2 bicycles – unlike traditional designs this bike stand required no digging, no concreting, in fact all you needed to do was quickly install it onto existing street furniture.
Of course Lau’s innovative design didn’t go unnoticed; he won the street furniture category of the ‘Reinventing the Bike Shed’ International design competition in 2006. He then spent the next seven years winning a whole load more awards and created a range of new and interesting products.
Cyclehoop’s latest win in New York follows a pledge by the city (New York City Department of Transportation) to invest in cycling infrastructure following a 26% rise in cyclists since 2005. The adaptation of the Cyclehoop will see the conversion of 12,000 old car parking meter poles into cycle stands, doubling the current number of cycle parking spaces in the city. The commitment to parking sits alongside a range of measures including dedicated cycle lanes across Times Square and a bike sharing system which will be launched later this year.
The Cyclehoop project is a great example of innovative thinking applied in the cycling industry and of the benefits that such investment adds to the economy.
I for one take great pleasure in knowing that some lousy bike thief inspired a fellow Londoner to create a world leading product.
Cyclehoop, going to New York, is actually a return of the original concept I first saw in Toronto in 1990 where cast rings with City of Toronto – Cycle Parking cast into the design were designed to be fitted to parking meters and other poles on the street.
I illustrated this concept in the report on cycle parking for Southampton City Council and DfT in 1998, and for a period Broxap offered a bollard with such rings fitted.
Really is nothing new under the sun.
All I’ll say is the bike in the photo looks sexy 🙂
Where is the shot of the bikes in car spaces taken – London or NYC?
Hoops on posts like that have been in North American cities since at least the 90s.
What is the height of the post?
Is the hoop adjustable in it’s height on the post?
Are there various heights of posts available?
What are the costs?