Design Responses > About Parking Facilities > Case Studies >
Transport Interchange
Finsbury Park (London UK)

A secure covered overground bike park serving the Finsbury Park transport interchange. The bike park offers parking for up to 130 bikes using Sekura-Byk. Cyclists are required to pre-register for the service and are given a swipe card for access and use. Access to the facility is through a controlled gate at street level. The facility is staffed at peak times during the week but is open 24hr a day. The swipe card is also used to operate the stands at colour-coded consoles. The stands lock the frame of the bike and a steel cable is provided to secure both front and back wheels.

Provider
Sekura – Byk with Transport for London

Designer / Architect
Tony Meadows Associates

Cost of provision
Build cost £675,000 but this is because site improvements included those beyond build of bike park.

Strengths
• 24 hours access
• Staffed at peak hours and CCTV 24 hours monitoring
• Covered, clean and dry environment
• Good access layout and spacing
• The stands offer good locking practice without the need for extra locks (both wheels and frame can be secured providing cyclists use the steel cable)
• Sense of community between users and natural feeling of security
• Good daylight and night illumination scheme
• Only registered users in possession of the magnetic card can access the space
• Good visibility through the fences and potential natural surveillance
• Good maintenance and help point connected with TFL
• Repair service offered twice per week
• Telephone top up service available (although with a surcharge)

Weaknesses
• The metal fences enclosing the compound look like a prison
• Charge of £0.50 for 24 hours - there is no difference for shorter lengths of stay or discount for regular users
• Short-term users often find an informal solution nearby
• The location is 5m over the recommended distance from station entrance
• Parkland Walk access is not well lit during hours of darkness
• No shelves or lockers are available for users’ equipment
• Basic services such as air pump, water and a mirror are missing
• The push button inside the facility can be reached using a simple pole/stick
• Poor or non-existing signage/usage instructions for the facility within the surrounding area
• When bikes are parked in succession the handlebars clash making bikes difficult to place and collect
• Swipe cards interfere and malfunction when placed together with Transport for London’s Oyster card system

Useful References
www.sekurabyk.com
www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers