Fresh From The Field: Modular Cycle Parking – By Maynard
Maynard brings visibility, sustainability, and smart urban thinking together in this cycle parking system designed for the future of Auckland transport.
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The brief
In support of Auckland Transport’s intention to encourage active travel – and embed climate resilience in the future fabric of the city – Maynard has designed a dynamic system of modular cycle parking.
The project addresses a number of challenges – in laying the right infrastructure at train and rapid bus stations, overcoming perceptions that cycling is unsafe, and filling a significant gap in everyday bike amenities.
As infrastructure – and demand – for transport on two wheels grows across Tāmaki Makaurau, this brief championed the opportunity to reclaim car-dominated space to make cycling more convenient, visible, and respected by all on the roads.
The design response
Standing out on the street, an unmistakeable green canopy is both a distinct visual identity and design intervention in one; consistent in colour with cycle infrastructure across the city, the parking is elevated in visibility – noticed, recognised, and easily remembered. Eye-catching graphic detail finds inspiration in the language of te ngāhere, referencing a stand of nīkau.
The product fits within a standard car park space, and balances structural integrity with intuitive user experience. Racks are easy to use, accommodating varying types of bike, while the ‘open’ canopy allows for both passive surveillance and wayfinding. Integrated community boards and journey-planning maps transform these modules into activated local information hubs.
A modular ‘kit of parts’ approach to product design is sustainable and designed for longevity through: material efficiency, low-impact installation, compact packing and transport, a ‘plug and play’ of replacement parts, and consideration for end of life. In alignment with Auckland Transport’s environmental standards, the modules are produced in durable, locally manufactured materials, while a ‘no-dig’ approach avoids unnecessary excavation – with no paving required for installation. The system can be easily scaled up, relocated, or disassembled, with individual parts repaired or replaced as required; components can be sorted for material recovery and a flat-pack component set allows for reduced environmental impact in packaging and transport.
The design team
Guy Hohmann – Director
Jordan Henderson – Senior Industrial Designer
Joel Beachman – Senior Wayfinding Designer
Sam van der Weerden – Senior Wayfinding Designer
Sophie Harkness – Designer
Sophia Martins-Irvine – Industrial Designer
Hanna Tilsley – Junior Industrial Designer
https://www.maynard-design.com
Instagram: @maynarddesign
LinkedIn: Maynard Design Consultancy
The client team
Auckland Transport
Instagram: @akltransport
LinkedIn: Auckland Transport
https://at.govt.nz
Collaborators
MAG Assembly, Crank, Allyn Sims, Sam Kemp
