Amsterdam expands the use of its smart bike parking tag

Cyclists in the Dutch city of Amsterdam are now able to enter and leave more municipal bicycle parking garages, and those at the city's main railway stations, without stopping or using any smart card. This will be facilitated by means of a scannable barcode tag that is fitted to the bicycle, which allows quicker passage through the entry gates of the respective bicycle parking garages.

Tests that have been undertaken at bicycle parking and railway stations in the Dutch cities of Breda and Harderwijk have demonstrated that this system reduces queuing times to enter the respective bike parking garages. The barcode tag has been developed by the city of Amsterdam and the Dutch national railway operator. It was originally installed at the Amsterdam Amstel station and was extended to three more stations at the end of August 2021.

All cyclists with a bike parking subscription will be able to have a tag attached to their bicycles for free for use at the respective bicycle parking garages.

Easier access to bicycle parking garages is one approach being implemented to ease the city’s challenges relating to bicycle parking. In response to complaints about parked bicycles on canal bridges pushing pedestrians to walk on the road, the municipality has placed plant and flower baskets on the bridges to discourage bike parking. New parking zones for bicycles have been installed at the same time, often replacing car parking spaces.

Article published first at CitiesToday on 23 August 2021.