Comment & Analysis: A cost of 85,000, or 1,416 per space, for a secure bicycle shed for the National Maternity Hospital is cheap compared to building car parking, which is estimated to cost 5,000 to 85,000 per space in 2025. Added to this are the health benefits of staff cycling to work, including the general finding that active commutes mean fewer sick days (sources: 1, 2, 3), and providing staff facilities is important in the health sector where retention can be an issue.The cost of the Leinster House bicycle shelter at 336,000, or 9,333 per space, was unjustifiable. But after that scandal, Sinn Fin, Independent Ireland and a large chunk of the media tried to brand bicycle parking at hospitals as public waste, first with the National Maternity Hospital and then with Kerry Hospital. Last year Sinn Fin thought that the National Maternity Hospital bicycle parking would cost 100,000 according to a Freedom of Information request made by the Irish Independent, it actually cost less, 85,000.The issue was debated in the Dil on September 30th last during Leaders Question. About an hour later, during the Order of Business discussion in the Dil, Taoiseach Michel Martin seemingly corrected the record and said: in terms of the bike shed the Deputy referenced earlier, the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is saying the approximate cost for the actual bike shed was 32,000. There is a lot more going on there.The Taoiseach seems to have questions to answer as to what he was talking about. None of the bicycle sheds or shelters that were mentioned in the debate earlier that day come close to that range of funding. Minister of State, Deputy Boxer Moran, whose responsibility includes the OPW, would also have had oversight over the Dil bike shed. But the OPW generally has no involvement in hospitals.But even if questions need to be answered on what he meant, the bicycle parking at the National Maternity Hospital seems to represent value for money or is at least not crazily out of line as its been made out to be by some politicians and commentators. The company which provided the bicycle shed, Wind Power, features the National Maternity Hospital bicycle parking on their website. The shed includes two-tier bicycle parking racks and vertical hanging systems.It describes the bike shed project as follows: The central challenge was to maximise cycle capacity within an awkward, tightly constrained footprint in a difficult-to-access inner-city location, while maintaining a safe, intuitive layout for everyday staff use. Head-Wind developed a bespoke enclosure that makes full use of every available square metre, combining gas-assisted two-tier cycle parking and semi-vertical racks for up to 60 bicycles.The structure features a powder-coated steel framework, a sedum green roof, and a combination of high-security mesh and steel panelling to balance security, privacy and architectural appearance. An integrated electronic card access control system provides secure staff-only entry. The project scope also included the demolition of the existing facility, associated groundworks and the complete design, manufacture and installation of the new enclosure.Its described as a Bespoke 60-space Eastbrook cycle enclosure with a gas-assisted two-tier cycle parking system, and dedicated e-bike parking. It is secured with an integrated electronic card access control system.The structure is made from a powder-coated galvanised steel framework with high-security mesh panelling and a green roof. The work included a full design, manufacture and installation service, including demolition of the existing facility and associated groundworks.Comparing bicycle parking to car parking makes the latter look even more value for money. In their latest published estimates, Buildcost, a quantity surveying firm which produces a regularly published outline of building costs in Ireland, puts the price of car parking at between 5,000 and 85,000 per space. See the image below and their latest report for details.IMAGES: Main image and image above from Head-Wind.