Designing a future-proof parking solution for cargo bikes in urban areas with limited space

Across Europe, municipalities are working on SUMPs, making urban transport more sustainable. Among other things, this comes down to reducing car ownership and use as part of the transition to sustainable mobility.

Our own research into behaviour and usage around cargo bikes and their parking has shown that cargo bikes can compete with the car (n=481). In addition, the cargo bike takes up about three times less space, considerably lowers emissions and promotes an active lifestyle. Yet for some, its adoption stalls on a practical barrier: they have no suitable place to park the cargo bike.

We designed a modular parking solution for cargo bikes in public space. This was done in collaboration with the municipality of Eindhoven, where the design is now being tested in a pilot with residents. This design transforms one car parking space into a parking spot for four cargo bikes. During the pilot, the safest solution was tested; the final deliverable consists of a range of multiple solutions.