Bicycle storage boxes are intended to aid cyclists being seen, and give them an area to store during a red signal phase. However, according to two European studies, only 22% of all cyclists used the advanced stop line. The main reason for the low utilisation was that cars had occupied the space. 50% of all cars stopping at intersections with marked bicycle storage boxes occupied the bulk of the bicycle storage space. Newman (2002) suggests that a possible explanation is that drivers do not want to have cyclists in front of them.
Bicycle storage boxes are used in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Canada and the USA.
Photos: Safe System Solutions, Google and City of Hobart
References: Andersson and Lund 2009, Newman 2002