In Hradec, a parking house for bicycles will open, the first in Europe

Hradec Králové - Cyclists in the hundred-thousand Hradec Králové will have a bike parking facility available from the beginning of February. An octagonal tube made of glass and steel for 116 bikes stands at Riegrovo náměstí, not far from the main train station of Czech Railways and public transport stops. It is the first such facility in the Czech Republic and in all of Europe, project author and investor Rudolf Bernart told journalists today.
     "The goal of the parking house is to support cycling tourism. It aims to provide cyclists with the opportunity for comfortable and secure parking so they can safely store even a more expensive bike or e-bike," Bernart said. He financed the construction of the Hradec prototype himself, which costs approximately 7.5 million crowns. The city provided the land for the construction.
     The parking house will operate without staff and will be secured by a chip and camera system. The bike will be automatically lifted to a free spot by an elevator. The bike will be protected from bad weather and thieves. Cyclists will not have to remove anything from their bikes and can leave their helmets, bags, and other items on them. A token with a chip, which the cyclist receives when storing the bike, will be used to retrieve it. The cost for daily parking in Hradec Králové will be five crowns, which should cover the operation of the facility.
     Bernart believes that the parking house will be successful in Hradec Králové, and that other cities will acquire one in the future. Some have already shown interest, such as České Budějovice and Olomouc. Czech Railways has also expressed interest, as they could include bike garages in train station renovations. So far, interested parties from abroad have reached out from Norway and Italy. Bernart currently has around ten interested parties on record.
     Initially, Bernart planned to open the bike storage last fall. However, everything was delayed due to the removal of minor defects, the need for certification of some components, and increased operational safety, as required by the relevant authorities.
     Bernart, who is a bicycle dealer, came up with the idea for bike garages during his business trip to Taiwan, where he encountered a bike parking tower. "We worked for a year to improve it. The Taiwanese one has staff, ours is automated. We hold patents for it in the Czech Republic and the EU," said Bernart.
     He already has plans for further use of the building. It could also operate as a bike rental, and a small sales stall could be located on its lowest floor. "I'm not looking at it commercially. I want to breathe life into a project that helps cyclists," he said.
     The city hall welcomed the project. "Riegrovo náměstí is a busy destination and transfer hub for many people traveling for work and school. It is already difficult to find a free spot for a bike in this area in the morning," said city hall spokesperson Magdaléna Vlčková.
     According to mobility surveys of residents, Hradec Králové ranks among the top in the country for daily bicycle transportation of city dwellers. This is also due to the fact that the city is located in a flat terrain. The city boasts several dozen kilometers of cycling paths.