As we shift towards greener cities and more sustainable lifestyles, one thing is becoming clear: the future shouldn’t be car-centric, and cities should not be built around car parks. We would all appreciate a future that is built around people, movement, and flexibility. That’s why developers and urban planners should be increasingly looking to transform car-dominated spaces into multi-modal, active travel hubs.
Reimagining car parks as cycle hubs, fitted with high-capacity, secure bike storage and amenities to make cyclists’ lives easier and encourage more people to swap four wheels for two. This simple but really impactful change can lead to a chain reaction in our societies. Turning car-only parking areas into active travel support spots is the future we should aim for. Here is how it can work.
Why It’s Time to Rethink Parking
Traditional car parks—especially in city centres, around business parks, or at train stations—take up a huge amount of space. Yet somehow, one of the most common complaints is still how hard it is to find a spot. It’s no surprise, really—cars are big, usually only carry one person, and require a lot of room to sit idle all day. When you look at how much space they take up compared to the value they provide, the maths isn’t exactly in their favour.
But it’s not just about space. Even when whole areas are given over to car parking, they don’t always offer the best return when it comes to accessibility, sustainability, or community benefit. As more people start cycling to work, combining bike and train journeys, or switching to greener transport, there’s a growing need for better cycling infrastructure. One of the smartest and most cost-effective changes? Converting even part of a car park into secure bike storage. It’s a small shift with a big impact—making better use of space and supporting more sustainable ways to travel.
What Makes a Good Cycle Hub?
A good cycle hub’s first point of order is to store bikes securely. Two-tier bike racks are designed with security in mind. Each bike is held upright in a fixed wheel channel to prevent it from tipping over or getting damaged, while integrated locking bars allow both the frame and wheel to be secured with a D-lock or chain, making theft far less likely. On top of that, our racks are made from tough, hot-dip galvanised steel, offering long-term durability and resistance to tampering, even in busy or outdoor locations.
That’s good bike hubs, but what about great ones? Great ones do more than just store bikes — they encourage people to choose cycling by making the experience safe, convenient, and stress-free. To get it right, there are a few key things every hub should offer. First and foremost, as we said, is security, and that means lockable bike racks, but also good lighting, and ideally CCTV or access control to give users peace of mind. There are also much appreciated upgrades like bike repair stations, lockers, showers and changing rooms which would elevate the experience to another level but may not be suitable for all locations.
A hub needs to handle plenty of bikes without taking up loads of space, which is why two-tier racks are often found in those places. They effectively double the amount of cycle storage in the same footprint, making them ideal for busy locations where space is tight, like train stations, business parks, or city centres.
Location matters, too. A cycle hub should be somewhere that makes sense: close to the main entrance of a building, next to a train platform, or right by a bus interchange. The easier it is to get to, the more likely people are to use it. And let’s not forget inclusivity. Good hubs need to support a variety of users and bike types — from mountain and commuter bikes to e-bikes and adapted cycles.
The ideal location would also be sheltered in one way or another. If a portion of an underground or indoor car park can be converted to house the hub, that would be fantastic. But if that’s not possible, having a roofed structure, like a bike shelter, is a must. Nobody wants to come back to a soggy saddle. Keeping bikes protected from the weather and adding another layer of security is always a good idea.
Where Cycle Hubs Make Sense
Cycle hubs work best in places where lots of people are already coming and going—and where it makes sense to swap the car for a bike. Train and bus stations are a no-brainer; they’re perfect for people mixing cycling with public transport. Business parks are another great fit, especially as more companies want to promote greener commutes and support staff who cycle in.
New housing developments, mixed-use sites, and big campuses should be thinking about bike storage right from the start. If you want people to choose active travel, you need to make it easy. The same goes for universities, where students and staff often rely on their bikes to get around quickly and cheaply.
Even places like retail parks, gyms, and leisure centres can benefit. If you’re encouraging visitors to come without a car, you’ve got to give them somewhere decent to lock up their bike. With two-tier racks, you get loads of storage without taking up much space—ideal for busy areas where every square metre counts.
So, what we are saying is…
Converting just a few car parking bays into a secure and attractive cycle hub can unlock significant benefits for site users, the community, and the environment. It’s cost-effective, space-smart, and sends a strong message: this is a place that supports healthy travel, future-ready planning, and greener cities. Good bike storage adds real value to your site and makes it more appealing to all people involved, from tenants and residents to visitors.
One car parking bay can fit up to a dozen bikes with the right setup! It’s also a great way to breathe new life into underused areas, such as surface lots or basements, turning them into safe and practical spaces that support how people actually travel today. And let’s be honest—people now expect great cycling facilities, especially in workplaces, housing developments, and busy retail hubs. If you have missed providing them from the start and are reviewing your existing assets, ask yourself: Could some of those car bays work harder as part of a cycle-first future?
