Providing secure and convenient bike parking is becoming essential for urban developments, workplaces, and residential buildings. With so many options on the market, choosing between racks, shelters, and lockers might seem like a difficult task. When planning a bike storage solution, one of your opposing options could be whether to install bike racks or lockers. Both options have advantages, but the right choice depends on factors like space availability, security needs, budget, and user preferences.
Here, we compare bike racks and bike lockers to help developers, architects, and facility managers choose the best solution for their projects.
Understanding Bike Racks and Bike Lockers
After years of experience, we know every product has its place and might be the most suitable option for a given client. Bike racks and bike lockers aren’t necessarily better than each other, but they have significant differences, which you must be aware of before buying.
Bike Racks
Bike racks typically mean open and accessible bike parking. They are the most common form of cycle storage designed to secure bikes in shared spaces. All cyclists will likely be familiar with them and have no trouble using them.
Bike racks come in various styles. There are the traditional Sheffield bike stands, which are simple, U-shaped metal racks that allow bikes to be locked securely. They are also fairly cheap and can be installed in many places. Then we have a wide selection of floor-mounted racks, some variations the Sheffield bike stand and others distinctly different designs, like the Wiggins bike rack. They offer various levels of security and are also typically inexpensive.
There are wall-mounted racks, like the Wall Dock, which are good for making the most of areas where there isn’t much space dedicated to bike storage. They are cheap and can save space, but sometimes, they may be hard to use for anyone who cannot lift their bike up.
The most space-saving and secure option is probably two-tier racks, which optimise storage, double capacity, and allow you to chain your bike at several locking points. Due to these advantages, they are one of our best-selling bike racks.
Bike Lockers
Bike lockers provide individual and very secure storage. They are enclosed units that often house a single bike, but some models can be a little larger and accommodate more cycles.
Models like the Brighton Tall Cycle Locker are great for single-bike storage and are most often purchased by people for their own gardens or garages. These lockers are fully enclosed and securely locked, protecting the bike from weather and thieves. We have completed projects where they have been used as indoor car parks and bike storage in commercial buildings, too. Like the other locker models, they are appreciated for their great security.
Lockers like the Access Bike Shed are similar in style but can accommodate up to 4 bikes. These units are essentially modular, so you can place as many of them as you want side by side and in a larger bike parking area. They do take up a bit of space, but again, they are very secure, and if that’s a high priority, for example, for on-street parking, you may want to consider them. With the rise of cargo bikes, we have a model covering those, too – the Cargo Bike Enclosure.
Key Factors to Consider
Here are some factors to consider when deciding what to buy. They are very individual, and you know best what’s a priority for you, what space you have, and what capacity you will need to provide for.
Security
The primary use of any bike parking is to securely store a bike. This is what users want, and that’s the main reason bike racks and lockers exist. However, you may be located in an area known for theft or have only street parking as an option, meaning you need all the extra security you can get. On the other hand, you might have a large indoor car park, a corner of which you can dedicate to bike storage, which will already be behind a layer of security.
Bike racks generally offer moderate security, and some racks only secure the frame, leaving wheels vulnerable. This is not ideal, and when we advise clients on what to buy, regardless of location, we suggest they opt for a more secure, albeit slightly pricier option like the two-tier racks.
Bike lockers, on the other hand, provide maximum security as they fully enclose the bike, protecting it from theft and weather damage. They are ideal for high-risk areas or long-term storage.
Space Efficiency
When it comes to space, bike racks win. They take up less space per bike and allow for high-density storage, especially with two-tier or vertical options.
Meanwhile, bike lockers require more individual space per bike. They are bulky and often restricted in how many cycles they can fit, making them less efficient for large-scale storage.
Weather Protection
If bike racks are installed outdoors, they are exposed to the weather and wouldn’t provide any protection on their own. Of course, a solution is to add shelter, which we always recommend. However, this does add another cost.
Bike lockers, on the other hand, are already fully enclosed and very effective at protecting bikes from harsh weather, such as rain, snow, and sun exposure.
User Convenience
When it comes to easy access, bike racks come first—they offer quick retrieval and parking, allowing cyclists to get in and out easily.
Bike lockers require a bit more work. They need keys or codes and have a door that needs opening. This requires more steps than a bike stand or a rack, and it might be inconvenient for short-term storage. However, it isn’t an issue for long-term storage.
Cost
Lastly, cost is another important side to consider. Bike racks are generally cheaper overall. The cost varies greatly and depends on model, materials and design, but the bikes stored per pound spent will probably always be in bike racks’ favour over bike lockers.
Bike lockers are generally more expensive per unit due to materials and security features, and they also take up more space and house fewer bikes.
Choosing the Right Solution for Your Development
Bike racks are great for many places, such as public spaces with short-term parking needs, commercial and retail areas with high cycling traffic, office buildings where people can commute to work by bike and outdoor locations, provided there is a shelter with the racks.
Bike lockers are a good choice for places requiring secure long-term parking, residential complexes or individual houses where people need secure overnight storage, high-theft areas where stronger security is paramount, and workplaces with premium end-of-trip facilities.
In many cases, however, your best bet might be not to choose but instead combine bike racks and lockers. This can give you a good balance of security and accessibility with quick and easy retrieval and cost. Developments with diverse needs might especially benefit from this approach. Bike racks can serve the portion of people who need temporary high-turnover parking, like visitors and employees, and bike lockers can be provisioned for long-term storage or to cater to cyclists with really high-value bikes who wouldn’t be comfortable leaving them just anywhere.
Choosing between bike racks and lockers depends on your development’s unique needs. Bike racks are cost-effective, space-saving, and ideal for short-term use, while bike lockers provide maximum security and weather protection for long-term storage. By understanding your users’ needs and considering a hybrid approach, you can create a bike-friendly environment that encourages cycling while protecting investments in infrastructure.