Cyclists in the US are used to feeling envy at Dutch bike infrastructure. I mean, just look at this bridge. Sigh. Now, Delft is showing off its bike parking lot—and it’s as technologically advanced as you’d expect.




A video uncovered today by Citylab’s Sarah Goodyear gives us an introduction to Delft’s newly-built Central Railway Station. You can ride straight from the bike path outside the train station into the underground lot, where you’ll find an “incredibly spacious” white-floored space that can fit 5,000 bikes onto automated racks that keep track of when you stow your bike and when you remove it—and keep tabs on how many free spaces are in each row. The racks themselves are double-deckers, with a handy hydraulic assist that lets you easily park yours on the top level. Other perks? A shop for necessities like tubes and lights, as well as a mechanic who can help with more serious issues.

Another thing that really comes through is just how integrated the lot is with the rest of the infrastructure. The architects of the new train station, Mecanoo, created a thoughtful layering of train, bike, and walking systems that connect multiple transit modes in one vertical stack. Another cool touch? The map of Delft that blankets the station’s ceiling, a bit like the aquamarine constellations that are such a hallmark of Grand Central. [Bicycle Dutch; Citylab]


Image via Mecanoo .