Underground parking for 7,000 bikes opening at Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan and the city's aldermen want to build a large, underground bicycle parking garage for 7,000 bikes on the south side of Amsterdam Centraal Station. The storage is planned for an area between Prins Hendrikkade and the pathway to the station, just west of the entrance to Damraak, in an area called the "Open Havenfront," the city announced on Wednesday. The plan now heads to the Infrastructure and Sustainability committee for debate on March 18, before a full council vote on April 1. Cost of the new garage has not yet been revealed, but it would likely fall under the Long-Term Cycle Plan announced last year, in which the city said it intends to spend 200 million euros for bicycle infrastructure. The plan has a focus on increased bicycle storage around Amsterdam Centraal, Damrak, Leidseplein, Mahlerplein and the World Trade Center. Construction of the facility would take place between 2017 and 2021. Amsterdam is also examining the possibility to walk straight into the metro station directly from the garage. Separately, plans are being finalized for a garage in the station building on the IJ-side with 1,300 bike spots. Construction work by ProRail is expected to start later this year. The bicycle parking garage is a part of the joint plan of the Dutch Railways (NS), ProRail, Amsterdam City Region (SRA) and the municipality to improve the accessibility of the area by creating parking space for 17,500 bikes in and around the station by 2020. This is to be increased to 21,500 bike spots by 2030. Amsterdam Central, along the “Rode Loper” areas, around Leidseplein, and at Mahlerplein near Station South.