Bicycle parking garage

Idea

Fully automatic bicycle towers offer a space-saving solution for urban areas by storing bicycles vertically instead of horizontally – ideal for train station areas or city centers. They are access-protected and therefore offer a high level of security against theft and vandalism. At the same time, they provide protection from the weather, which is particularly beneficial for e-bikes. As part of a modern cycling infrastructure, bike towers promote sustainable and future-oriented mobility – a clear signal for the transport transition..

Design

The steel structure of the bicycle tower is covered with a wooden facade in a characteristic slatted structure. This design combines aesthetic and functional requirements: the slats allow natural ventilation of the interior, while also providing visual protection and giving the building a high-quality, understated appearance. The combination of technical precision and design quality makes the facility a functional and architecturally integrated element in the urban environment.

Technical structure and functionality

Up to twelve bicycles can be stored at the same time on both sides of a pallet. The bicycles are stored safely inside a box. In addition, each box offers space for accessories such as a helmet or basket.
The pallets are transported fully automatically to the available floor in the tower and stored there. The system works efficiently and is user-friendly. With a floor space of only approx. 8 × 8 meters and a height of 11 meters, the facility offers space for a total of 120 bicycles.

Implementation of Radhaus Offenburg

In the summer of 2013, the city of Offenburg opened Germany’s first fully automated bicycle parking facility – the “Radhaus” – on the east side of the train station. With this innovative project, the city responded to the high number of illegally parked bicycles and the growing need for secure parking facilities for commuters. The five-story building offers space for 120 bicycles, which are distributed across ten pallets. Users can store their bikes safely and protected from the weather in separate boxes using a chip card. It is operated via two touchscreen terminals, and up to twelve bicycles can be parked at the same time. In addition, the roof of the wheelhouse was equipped with a photovoltaic system to generate renewable electricity.

Redesign to RadParkHaus 2023

In 2023, the product was transferred to krauth technology. As a result, the bicycle parking facility was adapted to changing requirements and underwent a comprehensive redesign. The aim of the revision was to further improve both the technical requirements – such as wider handlebars and digital access systems – and the design quality, such as different facade variants, and to make the system future-proof.

Photomontage

Facade variants

Data

Client:	Stadt Offenburg / SMT GmbH krauth technology GmbH
Period:	Design development 2012 – 2013 Implementation 2013 Redesign 2023
Awards:	Deutscher Fahrradpreis, 2nd place in 2015

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