Residents in Melbourne’s inner north could soon have a new option for storing their bikes when space at home is scarce.
The City of Merri-bek is exploring a new concept that has taken off in the UK: storing your bike as you would your car – in the street.
But in this case the bike is snug and secure in a small, functional steel structure called a cycle hangar.
Residents in a street could register and use one of the six spaces in each hangar.
More than 30,000 spaces in these hangars have already been installed in London, and there is a long waiting list for a space.
And with the lids painted in Merri-bek’s very own Brunswick Green, who could complain?
If you are interested in having access to one of these structures, the council would like to hear from you.
Register your interest here and Merri-bek can keep you up to date with the cycle hangar program as it develops.
Eligibility for places in the program will be determined based on demand, lack of access to existing parking and availability of locations to install the cycle hangars.
Residents taking part in the program would pay a nominal yearly administration fee per space in a cycle hangar, proposed to be equal to a car parking permit ($48.10).
This would be renewed annually to ensure that spaces get used.
Meanwhile the city is expanding its public bike hoop installations and wants to hear from riders who have ideas about where the new hoops would be best located.
You can drop a pin in the online map here.
The council says having adequate bicycle parking across the municipality supports businesses, schools and sporting clubs by allowing space-efficient ways for people to get around.
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