Quality Bicycle Parking

How many times have you biked to run an errand only to find there is no bike parking at your destination? Where then to park your bike? In such cases, I usually leave my bike up near the building and lock it to itself. Other times, if possible, I lock it to a bench or a tree (bad for the tree) or some other immovable object. None of these options is ideal. Parked away from bike racks, my bike could be obstructing pedestrians or other cyclists, or appear inviting to thieves. Bike racks and bike lockers offer a much better solution.

The availability of good bike parking is essential for encouraging bicycles for transportation. A recent survey sponsored by Bicycling Magazine showed that over 25 percent of U.S. commuters would be encouraged to leave their cars at home and bike to work if provided with amenities such as bike storage at work and designated bicycle lanes.

Some communities leave the option of providing bicycle parking up to individual businesses, and some businesses and institutions have a done a great job accommodating bicycles. Among them are UW-Madison, which has added hundreds of bike racks over the past few years, UW-Platteville, which recently added bike lockers for over 140 bikes, and Gundersen/Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, which installed a bike parking lot and offers bicycle commuting incentives to employees. Other communities establish bicycle parking requirements and actively demonstrate their commitment to creating a bicycle-friendly environment. Moreover, communities with bicycle parking requirements (such as Madison, Denver, Palo Alto, Eugene, OR) have higher rates of bike commuters as well as greater numbers of good bicycle parking facilities. Most cities with bike parking requirements mandate a minimum amount of bicycle parking spaces for new developments. A typical level for commercial developments is 5 to 10 percent of the number of automobile parking spaces; for residential developments, cities typically require between 1 to 2 bike spaces per residential parking space. Some communities also require bicycle parking at existing and rehabilitated buildings. The City of San Francisco, for instance, requires covered bike parking to be retrofitted at existing city buildings.

Many bicycle parking regulations contain guidelines on the type of facility to be provided, where it will be located, and other amenities that cyclists will be provided with, etc. These guidelines result in better quality facilities that cyclists are more willing to use. Even when cities decide to support voluntary installation of bike parking instead of mandating it, similar guidelines should be encouraged. It is important that bicycle racks are the type that accommodate U-locks and enable secure locking of one wheel and the frame. Too many bike racks do not support the bicycle and only hold the bike by one wheel.

Bike parking facilities should be out of the way of pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic. Ideally, they should be near the building in a well-lit area. For employees and long-term visitors, covered secure parking should be provided.

Good bike parking encourages bicycle use for everyday transportation, which is good for the environment. Encourage the businesses you visit to provide quality space for your (motor-less) vehicle. Encourage your employer to do the same. Support the idea of bike parking regulations. In the long run, such actions will encourage quality bike parking to become the norm instead of the exception.