In a nation with more bikes than people, finding a space to park can be a problem. This prompted the Dutch city of Utrecht to search for a solution which is revealed at its central railway station Monday morning.
The solution is the world’s largest multistory parking area for bicycles. Located beneath the central train station in the country’s fourth-largest city, the bicycle parking can accommodate 12,656 bikes, from cargo bikes that hold a family to public transport bikes for rent.
Promoting the already established culture of cycling amongst the Dutch people, the project has been envisioned to provide a unique experience to cyclists while improving the city’s infrastructure. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, a junior infrastructure minister said the country is “striving” to make it a cyclists’ paradise”. She added: “I’d like us to make better use of what I call this secret weapon against congestion, poor air quality in cities and climate change that is also good for your health and your wallet.”.