Apartments Add the Amenities of Duo-Gard Bike Shelters

Amenities abound at Harbor House and Woodland Mews apartments in Ann Arbor MI. Along with the usual pool and clubhouse to volleyball and tennis courts to dog parks and walking trails, the complexes recently added a first for residents: each now has a covered bike shelter by Duo-Gard.

Located near the center of Ann Arbor, these sister complexes, owned by Vesper Holdings LLC and managed by subsidiary Campus Life & Style, provide high-end accommodations primarily geared for students. Many residents are attuned to the alternatives of walking and biking, says CLS area manager Amanda Mills.

“In our area, many people prefer walking or biking due to the traffic and the scarcity of parking,” Mills says. “The shelters make it more convenient for residents.” Previously there was no special area for bikes, and residents parked them in front of their cars or stored them on their balconies.

Woodland Mews has 306 units and Harbor House has 208. Each one of the complexes now has a 14’x16’ shelter that accommodates 20 bikes. Mills says the Arlington model, one of Duo-Gard’s 14 standard styles, was chosen for its “visually clean lines and contemporary appearance.”

The shelters feature a graceful curved roof of 8mm translucent multiwall polycarbonate in an opal tint. This shatterproof, recyclable material allows a high degree of diffused daylight, while providing protection for residents’ bikes. Clear anodized aluminum creates durable, high-performance structural framing. U-style bike parking racks feature plastic-wrapped tops that add further protection for bikes.

The shelters were installed just two months ago, and Mills says residents are still getting used to having this accommodation available.

“We have a large market in university towns, not only for our outdoor bike shelters, but also for interior bike rooms and lockers that are increasingly appearing at bus and train stations,” says Michael Arvidson, Duo-Gard’s executive vice president. “Apartment complexes are a natural extension of this market.”

He adds that the awareness of sustainability and environmental issues in university communities is contributing to the dynamics of the biking movement.