7

At work, we lease 4 floors of a building: everything but the ground floor, where there are shops.

We have a loverly bike shed. It's on the first floor (ie, 22 steps in 3 flights above the ground). For many reasons, we're losing that floor and the bike shed will be communal space between us and the new tenant(s).

Some of my coworkers are unable to lift their bikes up the stairs, so they've been using the lift (elevator). This won't be an option in the future.

What can we do to get heavy, large, or awkward bikes up the stairs to the bike shed?

The single stairwell is also a fire escape, so any solutions must not cause us to fail an inspection. This rules out stair-ramps, as well as anything that intrudes into the stairwell.

At the moment, the preferred solution is one of those stair-lift chairs that are used for elderly or frail people to go up/down stairs. Still to be resolved is how that would avoid impacting the fire egress requirements.

I personally like the idea of installing a cargo elevator through one piece of floor that overlaps, but that's expensive and wouldn't be rated to carry people nor any cargo above 100 kg.

The other plausible solution is a cage outside in the carpark, and we lose the internal space. But that's cold, wet, and relatively low-security, so not my ideal.

Improve this question
16
  • 2
    If using the lift won't be allowed in the future, and the stairwell either, I don't see other options than taking on parking space, using the argumentation that bikes require less space than cars, so that would be a net gain - if parking spots are not a "privilege".
    – Rеnаud
    Commented Jun 5 at 5:08
  • 1
    What are the accessibility (legal) requirements where you are? If you need to be able to get disabled staff/customers/visitors to a nearby bit of the building you might be able to piggy back on that. Of course if you've been dumped in a basement that doesn't need much other access, you wouldn't get very far with that argument
    – Chris H
    Commented Jun 5 at 6:02
  • 2
    It's tricky in this case. I guess accessibility for staff is something they'd address if they ever hired someone - and that will mysteriously never happen. In public(ish) infrastructure I strongly support those who can't lift their bikes, including those who ride e-bikes as something approaching a mobility aid. These are often the same people who don't physically have the option to walk (and therefore are limited in their use of public transport).
    – Chris H
    Commented Jun 5 at 9:08
  • 4
    Is there an option for a small cage in the car park - or perhaps better, bike lockers - for those whose bikes are too heavy for the stairs? Though lockers rule out trikes and odd-shaped bikes
    – Chris H
    Commented Jun 5 at 9:08
  • 2
    Stair lifts are super slow. I also think that proper parking on the ground is the best solution. My employer has a locked bicycle room in the parking garage which you can only enter with company ID card. If there is no room available at your employer, maybe something similar could be implemented with a shipping container. At the very least you should have some strong ground anchors or rails to which you can lock the bike.
    – Michael
    Commented Jun 5 at 14:02

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
3

Use a rail on the stairs, like I see on train stations in europe (see example). E-bikes usually have a walk mode to help push them up the rail

Improve this answer
4
  • That is a good idea and if it were a simple staircase that would be perfect. Downside is this stairwell is also classed as a fire escape so there must be nothing that can impede egress. A rail on the stairs would have to be at least 30 cm out from the wall and that places it firmly in the walking part of the tread and would be a trip hazard. A ramp that folds up when not in use might work.
    – Criggie ♦
    Commented Jun 5 at 22:24
  • 2
    Is it a typical commercial hand railing anchored to the wall instead of the stair treads? If it is, the bicycle ramp could be installed under the hand railing against the wall. The bike would have to be leaned while pushing but it would not impact the usable width of the stair tread
    – mikes
    Commented Jun 6 at 8:13
  • @mikes that's an excellent thought - We're going to give some ideas a try tomorrow, in the rough to see what might be workable.
    – Criggie ♦
    Commented Jun 6 at 9:20
  • 1
    The rails on most Dutch stairs are placed very close to the wall, you hold your bike at an angle, wheels away from you, to use them.
    – Willeke ♦
    Commented Jun 17 at 8:09
3

If you don't need to store too many bicycles, you could check if these kind of boxes are available where you live. They usually fit in a single car parking space and are easy to install.

Other than the more traditional bicycle lockers, they fit multiple bikes (2 - 6 seems to be common), so possibly less space per bike would be needed.

Example from Velobox (not affiliated): Velobox

Improve this answer
2
  • That specific example seems rather lacking in security. Shared bike storage really needs something solid to lock each bike to by the frame (this also makes it less likely that people will drop bikes on each other), as well as a lock on the whole store. Would you trust all your colleagues to lock the store securely and not leave your bike at risk?
    – Chris H
    Commented Jun 17 at 8:35
  • @ChrisH they seem to work good enough where I live. YMMV
    – Berend
    Commented Jun 17 at 11:08
2

FINAL PRODUCT:

enter image description here

enter image description here

enter image description here
Perfect length fitment !

enter image description here

RESULTS:

  • It's too steep, at 32.3 degrees ramp matches the stairs.
  • You have to lean your bike, but its really easy to clang pedals into the Baluster and Newel posts.
  • The breakover angle at the top is a bit abrupt - so its possible for longer/lower bikes to strike a chainring.
  • There's not a lot of room on the landing to line-up.

And the final blow is that someone descending the stairs may stand on the ramp and fall.

This kills the idea of ramps dead.

Older Summary:

Lifts are too expensive - likely to be $20k NZ minimum and that's just a cargo platform, not able to carry a person. Landlord has also rejected the idea.

A stair-motor-chair is on the table still, but only because we haven't had a price.

I've started a proof-of-concept on the smallest flight with four steps:

enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

I can't add the other three props without accurate measurements, so will do that at work. I could not bring the stairs home for a test-fit, and I didn't think to do a tracing on a large piece of paper/cardboard.

An outdoor cage is the last resort.

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    Criggie, You are a capable person; I'm sure an external to the building pulley system could be made to work. If I knew how, this would have been an answer.
    – Vorac
    Commented Jun 16 at 7:16
  • @Vorac good idea - but there are no opening windows or patios because its an office block. That would work for someone at home
    – Criggie ♦
    Commented Jun 16 at 23:02

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.