Introducing the Oonee Hub

Renderings & Details of New York’s First Two Public Indoor Bike Parking Facilities.

The Oonee Hub will hold 100+ bicycles. Scroll down for additional renderings & design details

We are happy to unveil Oonee Hub, our vision for a public, in-building, high density bike & micromobility parking facility. The Oonee Hub will launch at two Brooklyn sites in partnership with Totem at 737 4th in Sunset Park as well as another location that will be announced soon. Each Oonee Hub will provide over 100 public bike parking spaces for the community, with a particular emphasis on integrations for working cyclists.

737 4th Avenue, when completed, will be located above the 25th Street (R) Subway Station.

About the Oonee Hub

Oonee is dedicated to building scaled infrastructure systems that provide parking and service to bicycles and other micromobility vehicles. Due to the complex nature of land use and construction in communities like New York, this is regarded by many as an audacious challenge. We nevertheless believe it’s absolutely fundamental to creating a future where bikes and scooters account for a large share of urban transportation trips.

A High Density Framework

For us to reach significant bike & micromobility mode share, a diverse range of infrastructure designs & frameworks must be employed. The Hub represents our high density concept: it is best utilized where ground floor space is available and demand exists for more than 100+ secure bicycle & micromobility parking spaces. In cases where there is less space available or less demand, the Oonee Mini (capacity range 6–20) or the Oonee Pod (capacity range 20–100) can be deployed.

From Left to Right: Oonee’s low density, mid density, and high density design frameworks. This flexibility is crucial to create an urban bike & micromobility parking system that can achieve ubiquity and scale in urban environments.

Policy: Leveraging the Zoning Exceptions Process

The two Oonee Hub locations in Brooklyn represent the first such commitment from a developer to include these facilities (at no cost to the public) as part of New York’s ULURP process.

High construction costs are often cited as a barrier to the construction of high density bicycle parking facilities. But cities are missing relatively easy opportunities to work with developers that are seeking zoning variances to include this much needed infrastructure. When developers seek these zoning exceptions, they typically work with elected officials and community leaders to assemble a bundle of benefits that are designed to improve the streetscape and quality of life for area stakeholders.

While larger car parking garages, subway entrances and discounted retail spaces are often included within these community benefit agreements (“CBAs”) public secure bike parking stations, which are relatively affordable to construct compared to a garage and subway entrance, are virtually unheard of.

Through working with Totem, the developer behind 737 4th Avenue, we discovered that these facilities are actually easy to construct and very popular with an array of community stakeholders.

We encourage policymakers in all cities to explore this method of creating scaled, high quality bike infrastructure.

Design: A New Standard for New York

Though indoors, the Oonee Hub maximizes natural light wherever possible and includes translucent and transparent materials.

Oonee Hub includes screens for transit arrival times and community PSAs. Signage will be bilingual.

Greenery and wood panels are used to provide an organic and welcoming space for riders. The facility features two sets of doors for additional security.

The Oonee Hub offers a bike repair station for quick & easy fixes.

The entrance is specifically designed to allow for bicycles to ride in, while other users are walking out. Each path will be wide enough to accommodate a bike and pedestrian going in either direction.

The Oonee Hub isn’t one particular design. It’s an idiom for how to implement high quality, highly functional micro-mobility facilities within urban buildings.

We worked with Totem and the building architect to create a framework for Oonee Hub that would accomplish the following:

• Accessibility: A facility that would be easy to use, with an emphasis on subtle design features that enhance the experience. An example of this is an option for a cycling hallway that would accommodate both pedestrians (those who just parked their bike or are otherwise on foot) and those who want to ride their bike into the facility.
• Transit Information & Community Announcements: A facility that would be fully integrated with public transit, particularly by including transit arrival information and other relevant service updates. Where applicable, the screens can also display public service announcements and other important information for riders.
• Human Centered Design: At Oonee, we believe that the most effective transit facilities are those that users look forward to interacting with. Our design idiom for the Oonee Hub includes specific attention to materiality, natural light, direct lighting and accent lighting that will create a premium experience for the user.
• Automation: All Oonee facilities are designed for fully automated operation and the Hub is no different. Signage and way-finding are located throughout the facility in order to allow for ease of use.
• Security: Each facility will feature two sets of access controlled doors for maximum security. Smart, access controlled bike racks will provide a final layer of security for riders.
• Assisted Lift Racks: Smart assisted lift racks will maximize density, while allowing users to easily dock heavier cargo bikes and e-bikes

To accomplish the above, we examined the best practices found within some of the best Dutch cycling facilities.

Prioritizing Delivery Cyclists

Working cyclists account for a plurality of cycling trips in New York City, yet the city’s current infrastructure doesn’t come close to meeting their needs. These working cyclists are vitally important to the local restaurant industry and also the quality of life that many New Yorkers enjoy.

We’ve worked closely with New York City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, who represents the area around 737 4th Avenue to understand the priorities of this group and to design a facility that caters to their needs. Working cyclists make up a significant percentage of the Sunset Park community.

Integrations include:

• Priority Space: One third of the facility will be reserved for working cyclists. In practice, this means that delivery workers will have absolute priority on these spots for the lifetime of the facility.
• Battery Charging: Oonee Hub will offer both battery charging and battery storage, for fast swapping.
• Fix it station: Oonee Hub will offer a do-it-yourself repair station for flats and other quick fixes.
• Bilingual signage: The facility will offer signage in Spanish and English to accommodate the neighborhood’s significant ESL population.

Revenue Model

In order to maximize access, Oonee does not rely on user fees to pay for facility operations. Thus we are committed to ensuring a free or nominal price for access to the Hub and all Oonee facilities. Instead, the company will derive its revenue from operating as a platform for vehicle rentals, sales, repair and maintenance, with users of the facilities being able to access all of these services via the Oonee app.

Sponsors and advertisers on outdoor facilities will also provide provide revenue to grow the network.

Oonee is a social enterprise dedicated to bringing secure bike parking & micromobility systems to cities. Follow our journey on Twitter and Instagram @ooneepod