Three new bicycle garages can now be used

Three bicycle parking boxes are now available to cyclists in the city of Chemnitz. The bicycle garages were opened today. Cyclists can now park their bikes safely and protected from the weather at the station forecourt, on the corner of Straße der Nationen and Brückenstraße and in front of the Chemnitz University of Technology lecture centre on Reichenhainer Straße.

Each bicycle garage offers space for 16 bicycles on two floors. On the lower floors, two bikes can be parked next to each other in one compartment, increasing the capacity of the containers to up to 24 bikes. The compartments are suitable for standard bicycles with a length of around two metres. Luggage bags and helmets can also be stored in the compartment. Cargo bikes cannot be parked in the bike boxes due to their excess length of 2.60 metres on average.

There is a charge for using the bicycle garage. During a test phase, the boxes will initially be bookable at favourable rates. These are based on the parking fee regulations of the city of Chemnitz. The first 40 minutes will cost 5 cents, then every additional 20 minutes will also cost 5 cents. The maximum booking period is 24 hours and costs 1.75 euros. Transaction fees also apply.

After the test period, the costs for management, maintenance and repair will be analysed. On this basis, a parking fee schedule for bicycles will be drawn up and the usage fees for the bicycle garages will be adjusted accordingly. The experience gained from the three bicycle parking boxes will be incorporated into further planning for the bicycle car parks at the main railway station and Alte Post.

Charging electric bikes is not possible for the time being. Although the lower compartments are already equipped with sockets, they are not yet connected to a power circuit. To activate this function, the use of which will be reflected in the price, cooperation with an energy supplier is first required.

How it works

Bookings can be made directly on site using the touch control terminal at the bike garage. The procedure for booking the box, parking and collecting the bikes is clearly explained via the operating terminal and via explanations at the garages. User registration is not necessary for this type of booking.

Alternatively, the booking portal https://www.lockport.online/de can also be used. This works via any standard internet browser and can be used on a PC or mobile device. During online registration and use, personal data is collected (name, address, email address and telephone number, booking period, account information) and processed by the service provider LockTec in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Germany-specific data protection regulations. An additional app does not need to be installed. A QR code on the terminal itself also leads to the booking portal.

All common cashless methods such as Maestro, credit card, Paypal or mobile phone payment systems are accepted as payment methods. It is not possible to pay with cash. After making a chargeable booking, customers receive a 9-digit PIN code, which is used to open the booked compartment for dropping off and collecting the bike. The bike is parked in the designated rails and the door is then locked.

Background

The city of Chemnitz is endeavouring to significantly increase the share of cycling in the choice of means of transport and thus strengthen the local contribution to sustainable mobility. Cycling is emission-free and quiet. Cycling also supports your own physical health.

Cycle parking facilities are a key element in promoting cycling in everyday life. These must be available as close as possible to the starting point and destination - and throughout the city. With the increasing use of high-quality bicycles and electric bicycles, the aspect of theft-proof and weather-protected bicycle parking is becoming more important. The bicycle boxes are an important first step in this direction. With them, the city of Chemnitz is testing
the spatial need for lockable, weather-protected bicycle parking facilities and the actual utilisation by cyclists. The bike boxes are intended to motivate even more people to make their journeys by bike.

The construction and installation of the bicycle boxes cost a total of just under 160,000 euros and was 90 percent funded by the special "City and Country" programme of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) in cooperation with the Free State of Saxony.