Cambridge expands secure cargo bike parking with Pragmasis Torc Mega anchors

Practical cycle security infrastructure is evolving as local authorities recognize the changing nature of urban cycling. Modern cargo bikes, electric bikes and family transport cycles are increasingly being used as primary modes of transport. These cycles are larger, heavier and often considerably more valuable than traditional bicycles.

Due to their size and weight, standard Sheffield stands are not always adequate to secure them properly; many owners want to secure both the frame and the wheel(s) with high-security chain locks. The installation of 20 Pragmasis Torc Mega ground anchors at the Queen Anne Terrace car park is therefore a significant step towards improving cycle security infrastructure.

As part of the wider improvement project at Queen Anne Terrace Car Park, Cambridge City Council installed 20 Pragmasis Torc Mega ground anchors, creating 10 dedicated cargo cycle bays with two anchors per bay. The upgraded facility was designed to provide more accessible and secure parking for cargo and non-standard cycles as part of a broader programme to improve accessibility, safety and security within the public cycle park.

The wider project was jointly funded by Cambridge City Council and the Greater Cambridge Partnership and reflects a growing recognition that cycle parking infrastructure now needs to accommodate a much broader range of cycle types than in previous years.

The Torc Mega is considered one of the most highly rated cycle security anchors currently available in the U.K. It is independently tested to Sold Secure Powered Cycle Diamond level which is the highest rating under the Sold Secure accreditation system. This rating is intended to demonstrate resistance against prolonged attacks using tools such as large bolt croppers, angle grinders and other heavy-duty attack equipment.

An additional benefit of choosing the Torc Mega for your project is its approval under the Secured By Design (SBD) scheme. Secured By Design (SBD) is the national police security initiative which aims to promote products and services that reduce crime through design standards. For public sector clients, developers and transport agencies, SBD approval offers an additional layer of credibility. It demonstrates that the chosen security product has been independently assessed within recognised crime reduction frameworks.

At Queen Anne Terrace we can see a developing appreciation that cycle parking now encompasses far more than just a place to store a bike.

As a world-class cycling city, demand for secure parking spaces for these larger cycles has failed to keep pace. Families, businesses and commuters are all making use of cargo bikes for everyday purposes, but demand for secure parking space for these larger cycles have failed to keep pace with that demand.

The provision of high security anchors specifically designed to cope with cargo cycles within this refurbished cycle park offers a welcome solution to a practical problem for many users.

As well as providing high levels of security, Torc Mega anchors also improve usability for cyclists themselves. They are designed to work effectively with high-security chains and locks, allowing riders to secure frames and wheels directly to a fixed structure with significantly reduced vulnerability to theft.

The installation is also significant because it demonstrates local authorities beginning to specify cycle parking infrastructure to a much higher standard than in previous years.

In the past cycle parking provision has often been a numbers game and the fact that these Sold Secure Diamond rated anchors are specified may signal a move toward the recognition of the importance of usability and security being designed together. The installation also reflects a broader shift in how local authorities approach cycle parking infrastructure, with greater emphasis now being placed on security, usability and long-term practicality.

With the continued growth of e-bikes and cargo bikes, developments such as the one at Queen Anne Terrace could well become the standard for cycle parking projects in public spaces across the UK.

The image shows the public cycle park at Queen Anne Terrace Car Park, Cambridge.

Image credit: Cambridge City Council