Design of a Bicycle Stand for Public Spaces : A master thesis project with Nordic Parks

This master thesis describes the development of a bicycle stand designed for publicspaces; a project performed in collaboration with Nordic Parks. The increasingemphasis on sustainable transportation has driven a greater need for effective bicycleinfrastructure with bicycle parking solutions in public spaces. This thesis addresses thechallenge of creating a bicycle stand that meet the diverse demands of public spaces,prioritizing user-friendliness, security, durability, aesthetics, and cost-efficientmanufacturing.The project commenced with an analysis of the current state and existing bicyclestand solutions. A literature review was then performed on theories relevant to theproject, industrial design engineering, human-centered design including color theory,design guidelines such as design language and design principles, processing in termsof materials, manufacturing, and surface treatment, and sustainability. The researchthen continued in context immersion where various methods were performed. A fieldstudy was conducted in various public locations in different cities to gain knowledgein how existing stands are used and their limitations. In addition to this, a survey wasconducted to get direct feedback from cyclists regarding their preferences and theexperiences related to bicycle parking. The findings of these two methods could thenbe used to create customer journeys where the steps a user takes when using a bicyclestand were analyzed. Collages were created representing styles, usage, and mood.The findings of the context immersion could be used to create a requirementspecification with the requirements as follows: Follow Nordic Parks’ design language,durable and sustainable materials, work with diverse types of bicycles, easy and safeframe-locking for diverse types of locks, efficient manufacturing, hold the bicyclesecurely, easy installation, maintenance free, and visible from a distance. The designprocess then involved iterative sketching in an ideation phase with methods to createcreative ideas. Morphological chart where the identified needs and requirementswhere in focus to be solved. Scamper where existing ideas were analyzed in terms ofsubstitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to other use, eliminate, and reverse. Theideation phase culminated into three concepts that with a concept weighting matrixit was decided which of the three concept to continue working with. This conceptwas then further developed with the creation of CAD models and a physical mockup prototype to visualize and evaluate design alternatives.The final bicycle stand design incorporates features that address the identifiedshortcomings of existing solutions. The design is compatible with diverse types ofbicycles and have frame-locking compatible with diverse types of bicycle locks,enhancing theft prevention. Technical aspects of the stand such as material,manufacturing, and surface treatment were described and motivated by why they arechosen for durability, aesthetic, and corrosion resistance.The thesis concludes with a discussion of the design's strengths and potential forfurther development. The focus on efficient manufacturing, durable materials, anduser-centered design positions the bicycle stand as a viable and valuable addition topublic spaces and for Nordic Parks. Future work could involve exploring moresolutions for bicycle stands and other products related to cycling. The work togetherwith Nordic Parks has provided a context for exploring solutions in the bicyclecategory, contributing to more sustainable and cyclist-friendly public spaces.