Public Funding for Team Enterprises Limited

"In a survey of adults across the UK, 40% do not own a bike and 20% of those said that they would like a bike if they could find a suitable storage solution. For many bike owners, particularly those in built-up areas with limited outside space, the problem of storing their bike securely and conveniently has limited the amount that they want to get it out and use it. Outside houses bikes are attached with D Locks or chains to railings but the bikes are often exposed to the elements and on full view to encourage speculative thieving. Sometimes they are covered by a fabric waterproof sheet which is not convenient to put on and off and not effective at keeping the bike dry. The solution for some bike owners is to keep their bikes inside, hanging on hooks in hallways or generally around the home where they cause congestion and clutter up the living space. There has also been a growing trend to erect small sheds or bike stores in front gardens however these are costly and will generally fall foul of Planning Regulations and in some cases householders have been forced to remove these shelters. **_The Bike Park is a compact, low cost bike shelter_** **_that is convenient, aesthetically pleasing and not an eyesore to the street scene when erected in a front garden_** **_while providing protection from the weather and theft._** The Bike Park concept is based on utilising a low cost plastic sheet material that can be pressed/heated to form an integral hinge. With a planned manufacturing cost of £20 the Bike Park retail price is designed to be less than half that of current products with added benefits of being \*smaller footprint and better suited to a front garden \*more secure against theft \*aesthetically pleasing and less conspicuous to thieves \*lower cost delivery/easier for consumers to collect from store \*easier for DIY home assembly/installation"

Many households, particularly those in built-up areas with limited outside space, have the problem of where to store their bikes securely and conveniently. Where secure fixings are available, bikes are attached with D Locks or chains to railings etc but the bikes are often exposed to the elements and on full view to encourage speculative thieving. Often they are covered by a fabric sheet which is not convenient to put on and off and not effective at keeping the bike dry. The current solution for some bike owners is to keep their bikes inside, hanging on hooks in hallways or generally around the home where they cause congestion and clutter up the living space. There has also been a growing trend to erect small shed or bike stores in front gardens however these will generally fall foul of Planning Regulations and in some cases householders have been forced to remove these shelters. The “Bike Port” is a range of products designed to provide a solution to these problems.

Households in built-up areas with limited outside space have the problem of where to store their bikes securely and conveniently. Storing a bike presents three issues: • protecting it from the elements • concealing it from view • locking it to a fixing Outbuildings (garages, sheds) are the obvious solution where space is available, providing good protection and hiding the bike from view. They are not necessarily secure however, can be costly and for many are not an option due to space restrictions. For many city dwellers the alternatives are to leave the bike • at the front of the property attached by D Locks or chains to railings etc The bikes are exposed to the elements and on full view, which encourages speculative thieving. • in a rear garden covered by a fabric sheet. This is not convenient to put on and off and not very effective at keeping the bike dry • inside the house, hanging on hooks in hallways or generally around the home where of course they are very much in the way and clutter up the living space. The “Bike Port” is a range of products designed to provide a solution to these problems. The shelter consists of a set of panels that attach to a wall with a unique bracket. The bike is secured using a wall anchor. The main advantages of the Bike Port concept are that • It provides better protection against the weather than a simple fabric cover • It takes up less space than a shed • It hides the bike from view and offers a means of locking the bike to a fixing. • It also has the advantage of folding flat against a wall when the bike is removed so it can be installed in a narrow side passage if necessary.