Behind the Design of Oonee Atlantic- Terminal

Hundreds of improvements, tweaks & innovations

While much of the attention has been given to massive marquee facilities like New Utrecht’s massive new Bike Garage, we’ve always believed that a vast network of medium and smaller sized public facilities will play a dominant role in the experience of New York’s cyclists. The average rider is only willing to walk or three blocks before a trip is considered inconvenient, while a few dozen “garage” type facilities could serve major transit hubs, hundreds (or thousands!) more are needed across the city in close proximity to commercial, transit, entertainment and residential destinations.

With Oonee, we sought to create a viable, scalable model for medium sized facilities (capacity of 20–80) and smaller facilities (capacity of under 15). We quickly realized that in order to be easy to access and convenient, these facilities would have to be centrally located within public spaces. Moreover, to make these facilities suitable to scale, we would have to design infrastructure that was modular, customizable, cost effective and attractive.

After successful installations in Downtown Manhattan and Journal Square, Atlantic Terminal was our most ambitious and daunting challenge. We aimed to substantially improve the user experience and operational efficiency, while also accommodating the high amounts of pedestrian foot traffic in the area.

The interior of the kiosk was designed specifically to allow light and air to flow through

The User Experience

In previous deployments, our members clamored for two new features above all else; power and air. In our user surveys we heard time and time again that these two features would make a huge difference in the commuting experience of riders.

When we began planning our Atlantic Terminal installation, we worked with our designers and fabricator to integrate these features into the kiosk from the jump.

Users can identify power outlets by stickers located on the kiosk interior

After lifting the hatch, users can plug in their bike to the outlet for power

Our Atlantic Terminal kiosk includes an industrial strength pump station that cyclists can use free of charge. The kiosk is capable of providing air for both road bikes (presta) and commuter bikes (schrader).

Public Space Features

City building regulations require the kiosk to be at least 10’ apart from the main building. This created a unique design challenge; as we wanted the space between the kiosk and the building to feel safe and inviting for pedestrians, especially during the evening hours.

To create an inviting, open, experience for pedestrians we integrated, planters, floor lighting and semi-transparent window graphics into the structure.

The mandated setback from the main building created an open space

The space between the kiosk and the building is wide enough for pedestrians to walk through. We placed planters along the route to enliven the space

During the evening hours, the solid graphics fade away to transparency, and floor lights provide additional illumination. These features create an inviting, open experience for pedestrians

Interior Design & Safety

Creating a safe and inviting space for members was a top design priority. The kiosk incorporates a number of design and technology features specifically for this purpose.

Despite being enclosed, the interior of the kiosk is light and airy during the day. Light and sound permeate from inside/out and the outside/in.

Extra bright LED lighting strips provide illumination during the evening. The transparent vinyl siding also allows users to see out during the evening hours (and members of the public to see inside). The lights are activated via timer in order to conserve electricity during the day.

We’ve incorporated a series of improvements to the ceiling to keep the interior dry even during heavy precipitation events.

A well placed video camera monitors the interior of the kiosk

Mobile Device Charging

To make the kiosk more useful to pedestrians and bypassers, we added the eight USB charging ports to the side. The public is invited to these amenities at no cost.

There are four USB ports per outlet. One outlet is located at each end of the kiosk

Electricity

These new features required a permanent connection to power from the main building. The solar panels that are used at other locations are suitable for dimmer lights and access control, the charging station and brighter illumination of Atlantic Terminal would require more power.

Prior to the installation of the kiosk itself, we built a permanent power connection to the main building.

The concrete sidewalk was excavated and a power connection was installed

Oonee Atlantic Terminal is scheduled to open to the public on December 13th, members of the community can sign up at this link for service. Access is free of charge.