Bicycle staple

The bicycle staple has become a standard feature of Dutch streetscapes: a U-shaped hoop to which visitors can secure their bicycle by the frame and front wheel. We supply bicycle staples in steel and stainless steel, available for purchase for permanent installations and for hire for events, throughout the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

A bicycle staple rack is a U-shaped bracket fixed to the ground on two feet. The name comes from its shape: a staple standing on its side. A bicycle can be secured to a staple rack at two points, for example, with a chain lock around the frame and a wheel lock through the front wheel. Each staple rack accommodates two bicycles, one on either side.

Those two securing points are precisely why local authorities and cycling organisations recommend the staple rack. A bicycle that is locked but not attached to anything can simply be lifted and taken away. One secured to an anchored bracket by its frame cannot. This makes the staple rack one of the most effective forms of theft prevention in public spaces.

In practice, the terminology is often used interchangeably, so to clarify: a bicycle staple rack is the open U-bracket without a wheel channel. A bicycle rack with wheel channels holds the front wheel in place and provides more guidance over how bicycles are positioned, but does not automatically offer a securing point for the frame. Which option is the better fit depends on what matters most at your location: maximum capacity per metre, or maximum securing convenience per bicycle.

There is another reason why the bicycle staple rack appears everywhere: it is unobtrusive. Rather than a structure of pipes and railings, it is a low, understated bracket that virtually disappears into the streetscape when empty. For town centres, squares and buildings with aesthetic quality requirements, this is often the deciding factor. When occupied, it looks neat; when empty, it does not detract from the surroundings.

Our bicycle stands are made from steel built to withstand heavy use and all weather conditions. You can choose the finish that best suits the location: hot-dip galvanised for a solid grey appearance, powder-coated in a colour that matches your corporate identity or existing street furniture, or stainless steel for prestigious settings. All versions are suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

There are also options when it comes to installation. Stands with base plates can be bolted to existing paving or a concrete floor, the quickest solution, and the stand can be relocated at a later stage. Concreting in provides the most secure anchoring for locations where theft prevention is a priority. For temporary use, freestanding configurations are available that require no drilling or breaking up of surfaces.

The correct spacing between stands makes all the difference to usability: if stands are placed too close together, handlebars and baskets will clash and spaces will go unused. We advise on the centre-to-centre distance and row layout to ensure that every stand genuinely serves two bicycles. Include a photograph or floor plan of the location with your enquiry and we will draw up the layout for you.

If you are ordering on behalf of a municipality or a larger organisation, we can supply any quantity required, from ten stands for a small square to full series for an entire town centre. Custom colours are also available, so that the stands blend seamlessly with existing street furniture or your organisation’s corporate identity. That way, an expanding cycle parking facility never has to look like a collection of mismatched purchases.

Staple bike racks are found wherever bicycles are parked, whether briefly or for extended periods:

• city centres and shopping streets, where appearance and theft prevention go hand in hand
• offices and commercial premises, at the entrance for visitors and staff
• schools and educational institutions, robust enough for intensive daily use
• stations and stops, as a supplement to larger cycle storage facilities
• sports clubs and hospitality venues, neatly arranged along the terrace or canteen
• events and construction sites, as a temporary installation

For municipalities, the staple bike rack is often the standard specified in the public space design manual. We supply these in series of any quantity, with the same finish and dimensions as the racks already in place. This ensures a consistent streetscape, even as the parking provision grows in phases.

When positioning the racks, ensure that there is sufficient space alongside each bicycle to mount and dismount, and that the row does not obstruct a pedestrian route or tactile guide path for visually impaired users. We are happy to advise on this as well, it saves unnecessary discussions with users and the local authority further down the line.

Not every need is permanent. For events, fairs and temporary reconfigurations, we hire out freestanding bicycle staples that are placed without anchoring and removed without a trace once everything is done. This makes them ideal for delicate paving, market squares and heritage environments where nothing may be fixed to the ground.

At an event, staples work well alongside our larger systems. The main parking area runs on temporary bicycle racks with high capacity, while staples at the entrance, the artist access point or the terrace handle the smaller numbers that need to look neat in those spots. Everything arrives in a single delivery, with transport, placement and collection all taken care of. For the main parking area, see fietsenrek huren, and for an elevated presentation, see fietsvlonders.

Unsure whether to hire or buy? The rule of thumb is the same as with our racks: permanent use or a fixed location points towards buying, while occasional use points towards hiring. In Belgium, you may know the temporary version as a fietsnadar, the same application under a Flemish name.

Hiring is also an excellent way to test the concept. If you want to know whether visitors will actually use a new bicycle parking spot before you commit to permanent street furniture, hire an arrangement for a season and monitor usage. You can then purchase with confidence, and in the meantime the hired season will already have resolved the problem of illegal parking.

You submit a quote request specifying the desired number of staples, the finish, and a photo or floor plan of the location. We respond with a complete proposal: configuration, centre spacing, layout, lead time, and price including transport. Most configurations are available directly from stock, so the time between enquiry and installation is typically a matter of days rather than weeks.

Installation is possible in three ways. You fit the staples yourself, using the fixings we supply. Our installers place the staples for you, drilled or set in concrete, perfectly aligned and level. Or you choose the temporary option, whereby we install a freestanding arrangement and collect it again afterwards. In all cases, we deliver throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, using our own transport that complies with current European regulations.

Once installed, a bicycle staple requires virtually no maintenance. The finish protects the steel for many years, there are no moving parts that can break, and should a hoop ever be damaged by an impact, you simply replace that single hoop rather than the entire row. Street furniture does not come more cost-effective or more robust than this.

If you need both staples and a larger number of spaces, we can combine the order. Single-sided or double-sided racks for the bulk capacity and staples for the prominent locations are then covered in a single delivery and a single quote. For that broader range, visit fietsenstalling kopen, or simply include everything in one request, we will set it all out clearly for you.

Would you like to purchase a bicycle stand for your location or hire stands for an event? Call us or request a quote with the quantity and a photo of the site. You will receive a comprehensive proposal quickly, including configuration, layout and pricing, with delivery included, wherever your location may be in the Netherlands, Belgium or Germany.