Cycle Shelters
Bailey Street Furniture Group (BSFG) designs and manufactures cycle shelters for construction and public sector projects across the UK.
Our range covers everything from open canopies for schools and parks through to fully enclosed, lockable compounds for transport hubs, commercial developments and residential schemes.
Here, we set out what architects, main contractors, sub-contractors, builders’ merchants and education professionals need to consider when specifying cycle shelters, the products BSFG manufactures, and how we support your projects on the service side.
WHAT A CYCLE SHELTER NEEDS TO DELIVER
Cycle parking is rarely optional on many public sector projects. On most commercial, education and residential developments it is written into the planning conditions, and the quantity and quality of covered cycle parking is assessed at design stage.
A cycle shelter has to do more than keep bikes dry. On a live project it needs to hit capacity requirements, resist theft and weather, coordinate with the wider external works package, and stand up to years of use with minimal maintenance.
Two reference points shape most specifications. BREEAM awards Transport credits for cyclist facilities, so the standard and provision of cycle parking can affect a scheme's rating. Local Transport Note 1/20 (Cycle Infrastructure Design) sets out government guidance on cycle parking, including the case for covered and secure provision to support active travel.
Getting the shelter type right against these criteria at specification stage avoids costly changes later in the project timeline.
“The projects that run smoothly are the ones where cycle parking is thought about early. If we know the capacity, the site and the security level up front, we can point people to the right shelter so it doesn’t turn into a problem on site,” comments Alice Rolfe, Sales Support at BSFG.
MATCHING THE SHELTER TO THE SITE
Richard Burns, Graduate Business Development Manager at BSFG, comments, “A lot of enquiries come in for one shelter when the site really needs another. I would rather have that conversation at enquiry stage and recommend the right product than supply something that does not suit the location.”
Cycle shelters are never a ‘one size fits all’ product. The right choice depends on the setting, the level of security required, and the capacity needed. BSFG manufactures across the full range.
OPEN SHELTERS FOR SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC AREAS
The Hardy
and Hastings
shelters suit locations where quick, unrestricted access matters more than
enclosure, such as school grounds, parks and staff parking areas.
The Hardy is a contemporary barrel-roof shelter in
heavy-duty steel with UV-stable roof panels, available in modular lengths from
4.1m up to 12.6m.
The Hastings uses a monopitch roof and can be specified with
polycarbonate or polyethylene roofing, making it a practical fit for education
and playground settings where sightlines and supervision are a factor.
SEMI-SECURE MODULAR SHELTERS
The Hennessy cycle shelter is a modular steel shelter that scales in 4m, 8m and 12m bays, providing 10, 20 and 30 cycle spaces respectively.
It can be specified open or upgraded with end panels, swing-out gates and a lock and hasp, so a single product can serve both open public areas and locations that need a degree of controlled access. Sheffield toast rack stands can be added to complete the parking arrangement.
SECURE AND ENCLOSED CYCLE STORAGE
Where theft prevention is the priority, the Ascot Compound provides fully enclosed, gated and lockable storage in galvanised steel, with optional side and rear cladding for added security and privacy.
For larger or evolving sites, the Paleto Shelter System is a modular platform that can be configured as open, partially enclosed or fully enclosed and lockable. Paleto supports two-tier cycle parking, e-bike charging points, LED lighting, access-control hardware and an optional sedum green roof, which makes it suited to transport hubs, universities and business parks planning for future demand.
SPECIFICATION CONSIDERATIONS
Beyond shelter type, several details affect how the product performs and how straightforward it is to install and maintain:
- Frame and finish: steel frames are galvanised, with the option of galvanised and powder-coated finishes for corrosion resistance and colour matching.
- Colour: all shelters are available in the 30-colour BSFG RAL palette, allowing coordination with wider site branding or planning requirements.
- Roofing: UV-stable polycarbonate or polyethylene roof panels are specified depending on the product and configuration, balancing light transmission with weather protection.
- Mounting: shelters are surface mounted, which suits concrete or paved bases and simplifies groundworks coordination.
- Capacity: modular bay systems let capacity scale with demand rather than committing to a fixed footprint from the outset.
- Lead times: products are manufactured to order in the UK, with delivery lead times varying by product, so shelter procurement should be programmed in early.
Alice Rolfe comments, “Finish, colour and lead time are the details that catch people out. We go through them on every enquiry so nothing holds up delivery once the order is placed.”
SECURITY AND ACTIVE TRAVEL
Cycle theft is a genuine barrier to uptake, and secure storage is increasingly expected on developments that promote active travel. Specifiers weighing security should consider whether a scheme calls for open provision, semi-secure gated shelters, or fully enclosed compounds with controlled access.
Adam Baldwin, External Sales & Active Travel Manager at BSFG, comments, “On active travel schemes, secure cycle parking is what actually gets people cycling. Working with councils, contractors and schools, I see the difference between provision that is specified properly and provision that is added as an afterthought. Getting the security level right for the site is central to whether the scheme delivers.”
Secured by Design, the police-preferred accreditation scheme, is a common reference point on projects where security is a formal requirement, and it is worth confirming the certification status of any product against project-specific requirements.
BSFG offers lockable, gated and cladded options across its secure range to match the level of protection a site needs.
WORKING WITH BSFG
BSFG manufactures its cycle shelters in the UK, which gives specifiers and contractors direct access to the people making the product. For architects and specifiers, BIM objects and technical data are available through NBS Source, alongside CPD sessions and a library of project case studies across education, leisure and commercial sectors.
“Being the manufacturer means we can give straight answers on what a shelter will and will not do. If something in a specification does not add up, we will say so and suggest an alternative,” comments Richard Burns.
For main contractors, sub-contractors and builders’ merchants, BSFG supports the procurement side with tender-ready information, quotations on made-to-order and configurable products, colour and finish matching, and a single point of contact for shelters supplied as part of a wider street furniture and external works package.
For education clients, purchasing managers and bursars can specify open or secure shelters sized to a site, with the option to add capacity as cycling numbers grow.