Park and Bike
 

Hello all! I'm a student from the Netherlands and for my practical period I'm researching the concept of a so called 'Park and Bike. The idea is to build a parking lot a few kilometres (or miles for you ;) ) from the centre of the city, where some big companies are located. You park your car over there and continue your way to work (or the shops or whatever) by bike. So now I'm wondering wether there already are 'Park and Bike' locations anywhere on the world. This way I could get a better idea what they look like and how to develop one. And if there's nothing like it, maybe you guys have any (additional) ideas for me?

There are parking lots near some metro stations - so called park and ride lots - where suburbanites park to take the train. Cyclists sometimes use them as park and bike locations, if their destination is not too far from the parking lot and the and the roads are not too bike hostile.

In may opinion it makes no sense to use valuable land for a parking lot. Far better instead to build a neighborhood, you know a mix of houses, apartments, townhouses, neighborhood commercial, and offices. That way people who want to be able to bike to work in town can move to a neighborhood where that's a practical choice.

I'd have to agree with Rick. Not to be too down on your idea, but it presumes that people have to live a fair distance from where they work. I would prefer just to live close and bike the whole way.

However, if a park-and-bike were being built, I would suggest that if have dedicated bike paths to the center city, with no (or at least a minimum) of road intersections. Have lots of bike lockers for people who don't want to have to load their bike on and off their car every day. Allow overnight parking (perhaps with a parking pass or something) for people who drive in, bike home, next day bike in, drive home.

Not everyone can live close to work. My wife goes north while I go south to work; we live in between. They have park and ride lots where car commuters meet and carpool. Unfortunately these are located near major interstates. Not very bike friendly. Depends where you are. I live about 27 miles from work and bike to the train; however there are times that I can't use the trains schedule, don't want to bike or drive 55 miles RT, so I "park and bike" I have scouted out 3 places to leave my car, all varying distances from my job.
Another place that you can often park are large shopping centers. Smaller strip malls may have a problem with someone parking in their lot all day but not the larger places. Neighborhoods often offer off street parking as well. I hate to use my car but this(park and bike) does offer another option for supper long commutes.