Article categories: News
Housing companies and businesses are encouraged to develop bicycle parking
Published: 9.12.2024
Many housing companies and businesses lack bicycle parking space. With the new Building Act coming into effect at the beginning of next year, building permits will no longer be required for bike shelters under 50 square metres. The City of Vaasa has drawn up guidelines for the design and construction of bicycle shelters.
The current state of bicycle parking in housing companies and properties was mapped in the Vaasa bicycle parking project. A total of 486 Vaasa residents responded to the survey, with 40% indicating that bicycle parking was either inadequate or inconvenient.
Well-designed bicycle parking facilities help prevent bike theft and offer ample space with easy access. Additional space can be created by utilising existing facilities more efficiently or by constructing new ones.
– The design should take residents’ needs into account. Different types of bicycles, such as cargo bikes, require different kinds of storage spaces than traditional bikes. Electric bikes do not require special arrangements as long as their batteries can be charged in a controlled environment. There are many solutions available on the market, including fire-safe charging cabinets, says Project Engineer Samuli Huusko.
Although a building permit will no longer be required, compliance with the building code, detailed city plans, and all relevant construction rules and regulations remains necessary.
– We have drawn up bicycle parking guidelines for both housing companies and businesses. The guidelines provide more detailed information about the changes in the law, the placement of bike shelters, and other related issues. The aim is to facilitate the assessment of the current situation and the planning and construction of new bicycle shelters, Huusko notes.
See the instructions:
- Bicycle parking guidelines for housing companies and properties (in Finnish)
- Bicycle parking guidelines for businesses (in Finnish)
For more information, please contact the City of Vaasa Building Control (rakennusvalvonta.asiakaspalvelu@vaasa.fi) or City Planning (kaavoitus@vaasa.fi).
The Vaasa bicycle parking project aims to increase the number of secure bicycle parking spaces in both public areas and on public and private properties. The project was commissioned by the City of Vaasa, with its implementation managed by the Vaasa Cycling Alliance, which includes the City of Vaasa, Sitowise, and GRK. The project was carried out between November 2023 and September 2024 and received a grant from the Ministry of the Environment for municipal climate initiatives.