Bicycle Bunker: taking it underground

The bicycle is ubiquitous in the Netherlands, and an icon for the country abroad. This doesn't mean that everyone looks favourably upon cyclists and bicycles. Motorists protested the creation of cycle lanes and one-way systems with through-traffic capability for cyclists and pedestrians. More recently changes made to many roundabouts to improve safety for cyclists and the roll-out of so-called cycle streets (a whole street laid out as a cycle path that is passable for car traffic in a single direction) have caused some local protest. But even the automobile lobby group is in favour of improving road safety for vulnerable road users. Which is an intelligent stance benefitting motorists.

During the years of plenty (2000-2008) many local councils had big plans for making their city centres and shopping areas more attractive. This included many high-cost new buildings and vanity projects, but was also focussed at regeneration by remodelling the streets and creating a pleasant outdoor urban environment. This meant new street furniture, new lighting, new paving stones and more often than not, resulted in the removal of all bicycle stands to park one's bicycle conveniently near the shops in the shopping street. The retailers craved space, and local government provided this as visible proof of their decisiveness. Instead very expensive plans were hatched for large underground bicycle parking facilities. And of course these were promised to be free of charge as long as shops and cafes were open. Many people ignored these new facilities with healthy distrust (as some would prove to have limited opening hours) and rested their bikes against waste bins, benches, lampposts and the like.

The underground bicycle parking in Tilburg was planned at the site of an old lime tree, which was conveniently condemned as too rotten and too sick to survive. The centuries-old imperial lime was hastily removed and replaced by this bike bunker. Granted, it is open until late, free of charge and much-used, it is a shame of the tree.