96 bikes: that is the capacity of Poland’s first automated underground bicycle storage system which is already in operation at Warsaw’s Norblin Factory. The system has been put in place by MA-SISTEMAS, a Spanish company which has completed similar projects in Spain, Switzerland, Singapore, and Israel.
The 24-hour public underground bicycle parking facility has been designed for anyone looking for a secure place to store their bikes and accessories (e.g., helmet, basket, luggage). The system is fully automated and extremely simple to use. It is activated by a panel at the docking station which calls out a cabin. A bicycle and other items are placed in a box which is then locked and descends to a multi-storey underground car park. The process takes less than 15 seconds. Retrieving the bike is just as quick.
“We are delighted to provide the residents of the capital city with Poland’s first extraordinary bicycle parking facility. Warsaw has the longest network of bicycle paths in Poland, spanning over 700 km and growing every year. Following in the footsteps of our Western neighbours, Poles are turning towards more ecological means of transport. We have for years promoted sustainable transport in our investment projects to address the needs of urban cyclists,” said Kinga Nowakowska, Member of the Management Board and Chief Operating Officer at Capital Park Group.
The bicycle parking facility is located on the side of Prosta Street between two historic buildings: the Foundry Hall and the former Metal Science Laboratory, which now houses the Piano Bar music club. A self-service bicycle repair station is located right next to the parking facility. The exterior shell of the station corresponds visually with the factory surroundings. Partly glazed, the structure showcases the mechanism and hints at the restored factory machines which are presented throughout the complex. The project was put in place by MA-SISTEMAS, a Spanish company whose original concept of an underground bicycle parking facility called Biceberg is present in many cities in Spain, including Barcelona and Zaragoza.
The use of the bicycle parking is free until the end of May. Starting in June, the bike storage fee will be 1 PLN per hour. The fee can be paid only using the mobile payment functionality of the Norblin Factory application.
There are also 12 external bicycle stands, to which two bicycles can be attached. By the end of May, their number will increase to 22, which will make it possible to park 44 bicycles. An additional 200 bicycle spaces are dedicated to the employees of the tenants, together with the accompanying infrastructure: locker rooms, showers, and a repair station.
The Norblin Factory owned by Capital Park Group is a multifunctional complex in the heart of Warsaw’s Wola district. After a years-long revitalisation of the former Norblin, Buch Brothers and T. Werner factories completed by the Capital Park Group, it has reopened to the city with its enchanting historical buildings blended with modern architecture. Visitors to the Norblin Factory enjoy culture, entertainment and food concepts, including the boutique cinema KinoGram, the organic market BioBazar, the largest food court in the capital city Food Town, and the Piano Bar with live music in one of the oldest buildings of the complex, the Norblin Factory Museum, the immersive space Art Box Experience, as well as shops and service outlets.
