Hello,
We are currently at the planning stage of a major move at work, to a new build site and have been asked for a wishlist for changing facilities. There is the potential for 1000+ members of staff (total, not riding, that would be awesome (",)) so I can guess at the number of showers, etc. but wondered if anyone had any ideas for the perfect changing/storage environment. I've got the usual, storage, showers, tools, lockers, etc. on the list, but thought you are an experienced lot, so may have some innovative ideas. I've done the usual web trawling but it doesn't really bring up much out of the ordinary.
Thanks for any ideas and ride safe.
mt
Drying room - either locate next to waste heat from aircon, or stick a de-humidifier in a room.
When I last specified bike changing facilities (local council offices) I put in lockers that were perforated so wet/sweaty kit would dry when it was hung up during the day. The locker room was heated and ventilated.
APF
Drying room... washing machine?
One of those spinny swimming trunk dryer thingies for your wet socks etc?
We've got 10 individual shower rooms dotted around the building which is great, but 5 shower cubicles within a large changing room would allow much more efficient use at peak times (we had 30 out for running club today at lunchtime)
Storage for clean shirts and a drying area for wet gear would be tip top
My last place had towels provided which always felt like a real bonus and i dont think it was actually very expensive to provide either.
Some snippets here from Sram: http://www.designboom.com/architecture/perkins-will-sram-office-bicycle-component-manufacturer-chicago-03-31-2016/
Secure bike storage with direct access to shower/changing facilties.
Office I am working in is terrible for the security and the changing facilities are poor (no where to dry kit/towels). Currently trying to get something done about it.
Just a basin and hand dryer for washing your pants
Towels and lockers provided. Space at top of locker for putting your helmet. Space at bottom for shoes.
Somewhere to stretch - padded floor bit.
Drying room would be awesome but maybe getting a good air current through each locker would work. With such a big site thefts may be an issue so you'd avoid that this way.
A shoe dryer, I have one of those clas ohlson ones at home and it's great but it's too noisy for an office environment and our changing area/locker room is at the rear of the cloak room and screened off so would still be too noisy. If you had a separate cyclists room I would have one of them.
I don't ask for much so I'm happy with:
secure bike storage
locker
somewhere to hang cycling clothes during the day
somewhere private to get changed
access to a radiator to dry wet kit/warm up gloves in winter
space between lockers for hanging towel, helmet
We had a changing room refit about a year ago and it was terrible. They tried to take on all the feedback and accommodate everything, but it just didn't work with the space available.
I would just focus on getting the basics right.
One thing I wouldn't forget is ventilation. Ours is like a steam room in the summer and drying off after a shower is impossible.
We're having ours redone at the moment and the cyclists were surveyed for input. The overriding requirement was for more drying space, so we're getting a good big room for it that has suitable air handling and hanging space.
Existing showers were OK - open plan kid of thing, but we're getting individual cubicles in the new ones. I have my doubts whether that'll work so well for rapid turnover, but there will be plenty.
Did I mention drying space?
These guys have some nice ideas.
[url= http://www.hbdesigns.co.uk/hb-products/categories/cycle-parking/ ]HB Designs[/url]
http://www.hbdesigns.co.uk/hb-products/categories/cycle-parking/
Dancing girls with warm towels to hand you as you get out the shower.
"Enough" lockers.
Somewhere to store/dry shoes & gloves (in the locker would be great...)
The distance from the building entrance to the changing/shower room is short and avoids Persian carpets and/or marbled floors.
Mainly though, somewhere you can leave a bike and be almost certain that there is a remote possibility it will be there when you return.
Drying area
Lockers that are big enough to hang suits.
Enough hooks in the shower area so you can hang up work clothes and kit so it doesn't get wet on the floor.
Someone to clean the showers/facilities to clean the showers. Ours gets cleaned probably once a month, apart from being disgusting, all the muck and mold on the shower tray is very very slippy.
We have nice big lockers split 50:50, so your work and home kit can be segregated, which is nice. The really good feature is the ducted air. Lovely warm air - filtered, naturally - is blown into the top of the lockers, flows through your soggy cycle kit and exits at the bottom of the locker. Soaking kit goes in, warm dry kit comes out - magic!
The cycle parking from HB linked above looks like inserting your bike into giant lady parts!
Our office is quite pathetic. We have a single shower room which is a pain as if you arrive at the wrong time you are waiting for someone to shower, dry and dress. Our previous office had the much more effective changing room with shower cubicles. However, the main problem with both has been insufficient ventilation. During summer especially it's like trying to get dressed in a steam room.
Would a drying room not totally stink of soggy and sweaty kit or does good air circulation stop this.
My wish list would be...
Covered bike parking
Several shower cubicles to avoid/minimize queuing
Ventilated locker to hang wet gear (would just a metal cage be enough?)
Locker for dry gear (depending on demand it would be great for storing clean work clothes
I like to keep suit / shirts / shoes etc at work. I'd like somewhere to keep them away from my stinky kit.
I'd like somewhere secure to keep wet / stinky kit that allows it to dry out in the day.
I want to be able to walk into one area in cycling kit, and walk out in a suit - I don't want to have to:
go up to my office,
get my stuff,
come back down shower etc,
take stinky kit to another place
eventually get to desk.
I'd also like a toilet in the same area as the showers.
Clothes drying facilities
Lockers big enough to hang clothes in and segregate clean and dirty clothes
Near by toilet
Espresso machine
Lockers with nice dry airflow are lovely. The last place I was at had all this in the basement (former carpark) and as the aircon vented down there you could just leave stuff draped over your bike and it would be bone dry by home time.
Security is main one. Same place had "airlock" security gates (which makes it near impossible to just follow someone in), CCTV, and most days someone working in the mini-workshop space down there. Never felt the need to lock my bike to anything.
Only gripe was racks, most were the type that stuck out from the wall and supported the underside of the front wheel (bike vertical). Doesn't work well with mudguards or disc brakes. One small section had racks for "heavy" bikes (which used a hook for the top of the front wheel, and a gas strut to help with lifting it up vertical) which was often full up - lots of commuters tend to just leave mudguards on.
decent sized lockers but most importantly a proper drying room...a dehumidifier is a most.
Our room has a sign on the door that says 'drying room'....that's the extent of the drying facilities, the reality is that its just a big damp dark room.
I'm going to do them on trade description
Valet bike parking.
Massage lady.
Showering [s]companions[/s] assistants
Sleeping area.
When working in a large steelworks we had a dirty locker and A clean locker, with showers in the middle, the lockers had a ventilated top and a steam pipe going under each locker, the steam was presurised in the pipe not as a sauna steam room.
Ample ventilation via fans not open windows, to remove steam condensation,also non slip flooring and shower curtains, along with soap holders.
Best drying room I've seen is looking round a distillery in Scotland. One of the staff had his bike clothes hanging over the hot pipes under the stills.
Well I work for probably the most bike-friendly large company. Happy to put you in touch with our coordinator.
But... Lockers and storage for shoes are a must. Lockers should hold a suit and two shirts as a minimum. We have a regular locker usage survey, because of the high demand.
Laundered fresh towels.
Decent shower gel.
Folding ironing board. Ours is never folded away and the irons break from being dropped.
Hair driers for hair and gloves, of course.
Benches to sit on to change and place clothes when changing
Hanging space for cycle kit. It doesn't dry in a locker.
Now the value added: we have a cupboard with emergency spares to get home. We have a bike shop on site and free servicing and labour.
We are rewarded with one pound per day to spend in said shop or Evans.
W have a very generous bike to work scheme.
But the nice white towels fresh daily, unlimited Dove gel and somewhere for my suit are what matters!
Hairdryer and/or sensibly located plug sockets. My main gripe with the showers where I work is that the plug socket is nowhere near the mirror, and right by the external door meaning you're in the way when people come in/out.
We already have:-
A bike shed for parking (takes about 30 bikes).
Site patrolled by armed guards (to keep the bikes safe). 😉
Everyone has at least 3 personal different size lockers.
10 showers in the locker room I use but there are others.
Drying room.
Wall mounted hairdryers.
Towels provided free.
a dirty locker and a clean locker, with showers in the middle
worked in several labs with different itinerations of this, and it is wonderful.
add in a drying room with lots of lovely warm, clean towels and its heaven.
