What To Look For When Choosing A Cycle Shelter

With more and more people being encouraged to cycle, whether to work or school, or for leisure purposes, having somewhere safe and weatherproof to store a bike when out and about is important. If you’re looking to get a new bike shelter installed for the outside of your premises or business, then it’s crucial to make sure you choose the right one for your needs, as well as those who are likely to use it. Here’s what to look for when choosing a cycle shelter. Size One of the most important aspects you’ll need to think about is the size of cycle shelter you require. Essentially, how many people are likely to use it? Getting a shelter that doesn’t have enough racks will only frustrate those who can’t find a free spot, while having a shelter that is too big and barely gets used could be a waste of space. As a rough guideline, you’re probably going to need a bigger bike shelter for use in a school or workplace rather than one situated outside a shop. Bear in mind, if you have a large outside area, or more than one entrance, you might even wish to install more than one cycle shelter dotted around in various locations. However big or small your space, it’s important to locate your bike shelter as near to a building entrance as possible, or somewhere where it will be easily seen by bike users. Design And Style Cycle shelters come in all different designs and styles, so weigh up all the various options before you decide which is the right one for you. You can get bike shelters that have a semi-circular roof covering one side only, or others that have a fully-enclosed circular roof. Some cycle shelters have a long, flat roof that may be made from a see-through material or a solid type. You can also find smaller, rack only shelters, without any roof covering at all. When deciding what design and style of bike shelter you require, how much available space you’ve got and where you intend to locate the shelter will be key influencing factors. If space is at a premium, a small shelter may be your only option. You also need to decide whether the shelter will be a standalone structure or similar to a lean-to, fixed to the side of a building. If security is important, choose a fully-enclosed cage shelter that can be locked. You might also wish to add solar lighting if the shelter is likely to be used in the dark, and the addition of security cameras. As well as taking into account the style and design of the actual shelter, think about what kind of racks you require, and how many. Racks can be free standing in the ground, or fixed to the side of a wall. There should be sufficient space between each rack for a bike to be parked. Colour Decide whether you want a bike shelter that is a plain, metallic colour or if you’d prefer one in a colour such as red, green or blue. You may wish to choose a colour that co-ordinates with that of your company’s branding or school colours for a consistent theme, or so that the bike shelter is clearly visible. Multi-Purpose Structures When choosing the right bike shelter for you, consider whether you want it to serve more than just one purpose of storing cycles. Perhaps you may want it to be available for storing motorbikes, too, or have a seating area if the shelter is located at a train station, for instance. Some shelters can also be installed with bins and even downpipe guttering to allow water to freely flow off the roof. In these cases, choose a shelter that has multi-purpose use. A bike shelter is a must-have in most schools, but if lots of kids come to school on scooters, it might be worth installing a scooter rack as well, which means the bike shelter can be kept for bikes only. Quality Materials Whatever style, design, size or colour of bike shelter you require, make sure that you select one from a reputable cycle shelter supplier that is renowned for providing high-quality structures that last a long time. Look for shelters that are made from sturdy, strong and durable materials that can withstand the elements, such as galvanised, high-grade steel. Although glass is a stylish choice of material for bike shelter panels, if there are any concerns that it might get smashed, it’s worth looking at other material options, such as polycarbonate or PETG glazing. These materials offer excellent durability and are very sturdy. Shelters made from quality materials that are designed for exposure to the outdoors are also useful if you’re looking for low maintenance bike storage facilities. Additionally, if you’re interested in choosing a shelter that is eco-friendly, look for those made from sustainable materials. Flexible Structures If you’re not sure if a bike shelter will be big enough, or you might need to extend it in the future, consider getting a structure that has a modular design that enables additional shelters to be added to it to increase capacity, if required. Some shelters also have the option of adding a roof and gates, if you want to increase the security of your facilities. Choosing a shelter that can be added to is great if flexibility is important, as it means you can scale up or alter your bike storage space to accommodate your changing needs. Installation When choosing a cycle shelter, you’ll also need to bear in mind what kind of installation options will be required. This will largely depend on the type of shelter you choose, and where you intend to locate it. For instance, some bike shelters can be installed with adjustable base plates for bolting down, or extended legs for fitting into the ground. Ace Shelters offers a wide range of high-quality cycle shelters to suit various different scenarios, so get in touch with our professionals today to discuss your own requirements.

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