Bicycle Parking Choice Behaviour at Train Stations. A Case Study in Delft, the Netherlands

Due to the increasing use of the bicycle as access and egress mode to public transport hubs, bicycle parking facilities are being constructed and extended. The provision of appropriate infrastructure requires the understanding of the needs and preferences of the cyclists. In order to gain insights into the parking spot choices of the cyclists, we have collected data at a bicycle parking facility in Delft train station (the Netherlands). This dataset is used to estimate discrete choice models that distinguish between an uncongested (i.e. many empty spots) and a congested (i.e. almost full) state of the facility. The findings reveal that cyclists want to park close to the exit of the parking facility which promotes the design in tiers. At the same time, they want to exert minimal effort, which calls for an easier mechanism to park in the top tier. Last but not least, providing real-time information signs is advisable, as it facilitates the parking spot choice as by reducing searching time.