Bicycle Flat

People always ask us about pictures of the Bicycle Flat. The 100 metre long bicycle flat at the Central Station was built to temporarily store thousands of bikes during the period that old bicycle-stands had to be removed during the large renovation of the surroundings at Central Station. The building was built over water to maximise land-use (or in this case: water-use). It consists out of three slightly sloping parking decks. There is a small surveillance facility in the centre of this quayside structure. The bicycle flat was supposed to be closed and removed in 2004. In 2008 it still exists and looking at the figures it may just have to stay. In 2008 The Netherlands lack 65,000 bicycle parking spaces at railway stations. The number of commuters is increasing, bringing the shortage of parking spaces to 90,000 by 2010.