Advertising pays for free bike parking in the triple win model

Secure bike parking has a funding problem. Councils want it and riders want it. But it competes for the same budget as roads, parks and libraries.

Locky Dock in New Zealand solved that by making the station pay for itself.

Why Kirsten calls it the triple win

Three groups get something out of every station.

• The council wins. A green public amenity arrives with no capital cost and no maintenance line in the budget.
• Local businesses win. More people arrive by bike, and they stay longer when they know their bike is safe.
• Cyclists win. Parking and charging are free.

Each group has a reason to say yes. That is why the model spreads. By 2026, Locky Dock had grown to 101 stations.

What makes a station work as media?

Not every bike spot is a good advertising spot. The screen needs foot traffic and visibility, the same things advertisers pay for in any street media.

That's why Locky Dock selects sites together with its media partner, oOh!media. Our article on the site selection mistake that costs operators most covers this in detail.

Who runs the advertising?

Locky Dock has tried both routes. It has sold ads itself, and it has worked through a media company.

Today it recommends the media partner route for new operators. The media company brings the advertisers, a sales team and location data. We compare the two options in our piece on whether to sell ads yourself or partner with a media company.

Is this model right for your city?

It works best in three conditions.

• Streets have enough foot traffic to attract advertisers.
• The council supports cycling and mode shift but has a tight capital budget.
• A street-media company is active in the market, or wants to be.

Where foot traffic is lower, operators often mix models. Grant or council funding covers some sites, and advertising covers the busiest. For more on how councils approach bike parking, see our page for cities.

Build this in your market

The triple win model is one of the business models covered in our guide to starting a smart bike parking business. If you want to run it in your own city, read about becoming a Bikeep partner.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for advertising funded bike parking?

Advertisers do. They pay for space on the station's digital screens, and that recurring revenue covers the cost of the station.

Does the council pay anything?

In the Locky Dock model, no. The station is free for the council to install and carries no ongoing maintenance cost.

Is parking free for riders?

Yes. Riders park and charge their bikes at no cost.

Does every location suit advertising?

No. Screens need foot traffic and visibility to attract advertisers, so quieter sites are often funded by grants or the council instead.