In Utrecht, the Netherlands, more than 125,000 cyclists bike through the city center daily, far more than the bike racks can handle. The solution: a garage that treats bikes like cars. There are similar structures in other cities, but Utrecht’s Stationsplein Bicycle Parking complex–located under the city’s main transit hub–is more ambitious. There are digital signs that direct cyclists to spots as well as a 24-hour free-parking period. Once construction is complete next year, there will be space for 12,500 bikes, making Stationsplein the biggest garage of its kind.
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Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com