According to the invention, a device is provided for parking cycles below or above a pedestrian zone, the device comprising one or more pairs of wedge-shaped cycle containers, each front side of the cycle containers being provided with an access and with two vertical sidewalls or side frames, which extend towards each other from the front side; wherein the cycle containers are positioned in pairs next to each other in mutual opposite direction, so that their joint outer shape is geometrically a beam (b tp£;/ZnLwjj^ or

Furthermore, drive means are provided to enable individual vertical movement of each of the cycle containers between an input/output position, in which the cycle container is located at the level of the pedestrian zone and is accessible by means of its access, and a parking position, wherein the cycle container is located below or above the pedestrian zone and is not accessible through its access.

Due to the beam-shape of the pairs of containers, for example, larger numbers of pairs of containers can be applied in combination with the existing paving of a pedestrian zone (which usually is paved with rectangular or square pavers). In another embodiment, the pairs of containers are "hoveringly" arranged above a pedestrian zone, in particular when the pedestrian zone forms part of a building, for example, in superstructure stations, metro stations etcetera in metropolitan areas. However, the pairs of containers may also be accommodated in a more or less independent housing, which is arranged above a pedestrian zone, as shown in Figure 2.

Preferably, the device according to the invention comprises wireless control means, which are adapted to enable individual users to control the drive means. In particular, consideration is given to the use of smartphones, etcetera, provided with a control app, by means of which users can buy/rent access to a cycle container and can control the access to the container. The invention will now be further discussed by means of the figure description hereinafter.

Figure 1 shows some drawings of an embodiment of the invention for parking cycles under a pedestrian zone;

Figure 2 shows some drawings of an embodiment of the invention for parking cycles above a pedestrian zone. Figure 1 shows a number of drawings of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for parking (bi)cycles 2 under a pedestrian zone 1. The device comprises several pairs of wedge-shaped cycle containers 3, 3', each at its front side being provided with an access 4, 4' and with two vertical sidewalls 5a, 5a' or vertical side frames 5b, 5b', which extend towards each other from the front side, wherein the cycle containers are positioned side-by-side in pairs in mutual opposite direction, in such a way that their joint outer shape geometrically forms a beam or rectangular block, i.e. a polyhedron with six rectangular side faces, eight vertices and twelve edges.

( tps _. : _. / n _. l.wjkip _. edia.org/w or h ttp _. s : // e n _. . wj k iped [a . o rg/ _. wj k i/C u bpj ) .

The cycles are backwards driven into the wedge-shaped cycle containers 3, 3', so that the rear of the cycle is positioned in the narrow portion of the cycle container. Correspondingly, the front side of the cycle is positioned in the (wide) front side (with access 4, 4') of the container. Preferably, the front wheel of the cycle is positioned transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the container and of the cycle, so that the required length of the containers 3, 3' may be limited/reduced (see also the applicant's earlier patent application, NL1041260). Furthermore, drive means 6 are provided, for instance a scissor mechanism, being arranged to enable individual vertical movement of each of the cycle containers between a high input/output position 7, wherein the cycle container with its top projects above the ground level of the pedestrian zone 1 and wherein the bottom of the cycle container (approximately) is at ground level and therefore is accessible through its access 4 for entering or withdrawing a cycle 2, and a low parking position 8, wherein the cycle container with its top side is located below the ground level of the pedestrian zone 1 and thereby is not accessible (through its access). Due to the beam shape of the pairs of containers, the containers can be fitted easily into existing pavement, which commonly comprises rectangular or square pavers 9 (pavement elements). Preferably, the device is provided with wireless control means including smartphones etcetera, which are adapted to enable individual users to operate and control the drive means 6.

Boxes (closed or open, for example in the form of frames), each being provided with a pair of containers (i.e., two adjacent cycle boxes positioned in mutual opposite direction), stand side by side in a reduced space, for example. This space can be made of concrete or another material. The dimensions can be adjusted as required. The roofs of the boxes and the cycle containers are positioned at ground level of a square, pavement or platform, so that no space is lost. It is possible to walk, cycle, or possibly even drive with light vehicles over the roofs of the boxes and the cycle containers. Each cycle container has its own lifting device, which is able, by means of control buttons, to lift the entire cycle container to street level and to lower it again into the parking position. When the cycle container is at street level, the door will be opened a little bit, e.g. by a spring. Subsequently, the door can be fully opened by hand, so that the cycle can be inserted or removed. During lowering of the cycle container, the door must be closed against the spring pressure. This can be done by hand or by foot. By pressing the "down" button afterwards, the cycle container will move downwards. When this button is released, the cycle container will stop immediately. During the upwards and downwards movement of the cycle container, LED lighting and a warning signal for this obstacle will appear at its top. Due to the smooth walls and door of the cycle container, clamping of limbs is impossible. The user is standing in front of the wide part of the cycle container during operation, where the door is located. From here the user has a good view on the approaching traffic, if appropriate. The activation of a cycle container can be done by means of an app, access key etc.

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically an exemplary embodiment of the invention for parking cycles above a pedestrian zone. In this embodiment, the containers are accommodated in an independent housing 10, which is arranged above a pedestrian zone 1. In the parking position, the containers are in oppositely directed pairs accommodated in the housing 10, in the same way as shown in figure lc. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the drive means 6 are formed by hoisting devices, which are arranged to enable individual vertical movement of each of the cycle containers between a low input/output position 7, wherein the top of the cycle container projects above the ground level of the pedestrian zone 1 and wherein its bottom (approximately) is at ground level and therefore is accessible by means of its access 4 for entering or withdrawing a cycle 2, and a high parking position 8, wherein the cycle container is (substantially) above the pedestrian zone 1 and is therefore not accessible (via its access). Furthermore in this embodiment, the beam-shape of the pairs of containers can be easily fitted into the structure of its surroundings, which usually comprises rectangular or square elements (pavers) . Use can also be made in this embodiment of wireless control means comprising smartphones, etcetara, which are arranged to enable individual users to control the drive means 6.