Recently, 'Stationsplein bicycle parking facility' in Zwolle was put into use. After the starting signal of Alderman Ed Anker and Deputy Bert Boerman, students from the Park School Abby, Floor, Tony and Bobbi parked their bicycles in the underground bicycle shed. The new bicycle shed offers no less than 5.800 bicycles. This makes it one of the largest guarded bicycle parking facilities in the Netherlands. Extra special is that this bicycle shed not only offers space for bicycles, but also for rainwater.
With space for 5.800 bicycles, the bicycle parking facility is one of the largest guarded parking facilities in the Netherlands. Anyone who travels by bicycle via Zwolle station can now park their bicycle easily, safely and dry in a light and spacious parking facility under Stationsplein.
Comfortable, safe and fast
The parking facility is open from 24 minutes before departure of the first train to 75 minutes after arrival of the last train. Travelers can park their bicycles for free for the first 400 hours with their OV chip card. With an annual subscription of approx. XNUMX euros, cyclists can place their bicycle in the new parking facility without restriction. The bicycle shed also offers space for bicycles that do not fit in a bicycle rack, such as bicycles with a crate in the front or a wider handlebar. In addition, there are about XNUMX public transport bicycles for rent. There is also a Bicycle & Service Shop in the parking facility.
In addition to offering a lot of space for bicycles, the parking facility is also equipped with a special system that makes it easy for cyclists to find a free space in the parking facility. The stairs have a special brush track for the bicycle that makes it easy to walk in and out of the parking facility. Because riding racks are numbered, travelers can easily find their own bicycle.
Bicycle parking is super sponge too
The bicycle shed not only offers space for many bicycles, but also for rainwater. During the construction of the shed, 'infiltration crates' were placed, these are special crates that can collect rainwater. It is also possible to use the parking facility as a water storage for extreme showers that will occur more often in the future. This bicycle parking is therefore one of the newest delta works in the Zwolle region.
Construction of the bicycle shed in two minutes
The new bicycle parking under the Zwolle Stationsplein has been realized with a financial contribution from ProRail - on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management - and the province of Overijssel. Construction of the bicycle shed started in March 2019. Because more and better places for storing bicycles were desperately needed. The bicycle parking is managed by NS on behalf of the municipality.
Station: ready for the future
Until mid-2021, a lot of work is still going on on the east side entrance of the parking facility and the new layout of the Stationsplein. For the time being, the underground bicycle shed is accessible via the west side entrance and the entrance at the station building. Zwolle is building the future of the station together with the government, the province of Overijssel, NS and ProRail. This is badly needed, because in the future Zwolle will probably receive more than 80.000 travelers a day.
A lot has to be done in the coming years to get all these slip-on, step-off and transfer users to their next destination comfortably, safely and quickly. The first important steps have been taken. The bus station has moved to the south side, Zwolle has a special one Schuttebus bridge which more than 1200 buses drive over every day and now the underground bicycle shed is in use. The next step is to build a new, accessible bridge over the railway.
Station environment: the innovation heart of the Zwolle region
In this way, it builds towards the station and its surroundings. Because the area around the station has already been discovered by more and more people and companies and will continue to grow in the coming years into a new part of the city that, together with the city center of Zwolle, forms the new center. An innovation hotspot for the entire region where technical and creative makers find the ultimate challenge. Where specialists and students bring out the best in each other. And where more Zwolle residents will soon be living and living. Because in the coming years, the Spoorzone will become a home for more people. Thousands of new homes are being added.
The Central Government also sees that the Zwolle Spoorzone is an important place for the growth of the Netherlands. The station area has an important place in the government's plans for the future. The minister recently confirmed the station's chances in a letter to the House.
Photo above: Municipality of Zwolle.
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