With bicycle theft proving a growing concern for cyclists, finding a safe parking spot is more important than ever. In response to the issue, a startup called Velhome has created a platform that connects cyclists and private individuals in France, Belgium and Switzerland, in order to find more secure parking spaces.
For cyclists, the idea is to easily find secure parking directly on the Velhome website. Indeed, finding secure bike parking spaces isn't always easy, often forcing cyclists to leave their bikes in the street, without knowing if they will see them again the next day.
Velhome offers them the option of parking in private homes -- often those of fellow cyclists -- in complete safety. Only private and secure parking places are authorized on the platform, such as a garage, an apartment, a garden or a cellar. However, Velhome does not offer shared or communal parking spaces, like those in apartment buildings, for example. Parking can be on an occasional or regular basis.
The platform connects cyclists wishing to park their bike safely with hosts providing one or several parking spaces.
After an initial trial in 2020, Velhome was officially launched this year and has been open to bicycle tourists in France, Belgium and Switzerland since this summer. The next step is to develop a mobile application.
Find out more about the Velhome concept in this video: youtu.be/rMd_baqfyZM
