Smart bike parking with the bus card in Lahti, Finland

The City of Lahti opened its Bikeep smart bike parking station during European Mobility Week in September 2019. Riders lock their bike with the same card they use on the city's buses, so there is nothing new to sign up for or carry.

A launch with coffee

The city introduced the station at a morning event during Mobility Week. Local cyclists got coffee and a hands-on walkthrough of the docks, from tapping the bus card to closing the locking bar over the frame. The EU's Urban Innovative Actions initiative reported on the launch as part of its work with Lahti.

Why the bus card matters

Most people who ride to a bus stop or into the centre already carry a bus card. Letting that card open the bike dock removes the biggest barrier to trying something new. A commuter can ride in, lock up with the card in their pocket, and use the same card again on the bus.

How it works

• Ten docks. Each dock holds one bike with a locking bar over the frame.
• Bus card or app. Riders unlock with the Lahti bus card or the Bikeep app.
• Alarm and camera. Every dock sounds an alarm if someone tampers with a locked bike, and a camera watches the station.
• Free to use. Parking costs nothing.

Still in daily use

Lahti's station has logged more than 3,000 parkings since 2022. It works best as everyday infrastructure, with regulars who park there week after week. Fear of theft is one of the main reasons people don't cycle to a bus stop or the city centre, and a dock that locks the frame and watches the bike takes that worry away.

More on how cities use Bikeep is on the cities page, and the UIA initiative's report on the launch is on its website.