(A) General.
(1) Lack of secure, convenient bike parking is a deterrent to bicycle travel. Bicyclists need parking options that provide security against theft, vandalism and weather. Like automobile parking, bike parking is most effective when located close to trip destinations, is easy to access, and is easy to find. Where quality bike parking facilities are not provided, determined bicyclists lock their bicycles to street signs, utility poles or trees. These alternatives are undesirable as they are usually not secure, may interfere with pedestrian movement and can create liability issues or damage street furniture or trees. Bike parking facilities that are conveniently located and adequate in both quantity and quality can help reduce bicycle theft and eliminate inappropriate parking, benefitting everyone. Bike parking is also highly cost-effective compared with automobile parking.
(2) Bike parking can be broadly defined as either short-term or long-term parking.
(a) Short-term parking. Bike parking meant to accommodate visitors, customers, messengers and others expected to depart within two hours; requires approved standard rack, appropriate location and placement and weather protection.
(b) Long-term parking. Bike parking meant to accommodate employees, students, residents, commuters and others expected to park more than two hours. This parking is to be provided in a secure, weather-protected manner and location.
(B) Short-term bike parking.
(1) Short-term bike parking facilities typically include racks which permit the locking of the bicycle frame and one wheel to the rack while supporting the bicycle in a stable position without damaging wheels, frame or components. Short-term bike parking is currently provided at no charge in the city. Such facilities should continue to be free, as they provide minimal security, but encourage cycling and promote proper bicycle parking.
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(2) Bike rack dimension requirements should meet or exceed those recommended by the Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (These standards are being set in the 2009 update to the 1995 Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.), including the following.
(a) Bike parking spaces should be at least six feet long and two feet wide and overhead clearance for covered spaces should be at least seven feet.
(b) A five-foot aisle for bicycle maneuvering should be provided and maintained beside or between each row of bike parking.
(c) Bike racks or lockers should be securely anchored to the surface or structure.
(d) Bike parking should be located in well-lit, secure locations within 50 feet of the main entrance to a building.
(e) Combined parking could be allowed in areas of concentrated small businesses.
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(3) Where racks are not possible on sidewalks (because of narrow sidewalk width, sidewalk obstructions, or other issues), bike parking can be created in the street where on-street vehicle parking is allowed. Two possible options for creating parking in the street include clustered racks in a car parking space protected by bollards or curbs, and racks installed on sidewalk curb extensions where adequate sight distance can be provided. Installing bike parking directly in a car parking space incurs only the cost of the racks and bollards or other protective devices.
(4) A curb extension is more expensive to install, and can be prohibitively expensive if substantial drainage and/or utility work is necessary. Costs may be less if the curb extension is installed as part of a larger street or pedestrian improvement project. While on-street bike parking may take space away from automobile parking, there are ways to mitigate auto parking loss: additional auto parking spaces can be created by consolidating driveways, moving fire hydrants or otherwise finding places where it may be possible to permit auto parking where it is currently prohibited. Options for combining bicycle and motorcycle parking also exist.
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(5) On-street bike parking may be installed at intersection corners or at mid-block locations. Mid-block on-street parking may be closer to cyclists’ destinations, although it could force cyclists to dismount and walk to the parking site if access from the street is difficult or dangerous. Combining a mid-block pedestrian crossing with mid-block on-street parking facilities could mitigate this situation.
(6) The following table provides additional guidance for placement of bike racks, considering a range of design issues.
Bike Rack Placement Guidelines | |
Design Issue | Recommended Guidance |
Bike Rack Placement Guidelines | |
Design Issue | Recommended Guidance |
Frequency of racks on streets | In popular retail areas, two or more racks should be installed on each side of each block. This does not eliminate the inclusion of requests from the public which do not fall in these areas. Areas officially designated or used as bicycle routes may warrant the consideration of more racks |
Lighting | Lighting of not less than one foot-candle illumination at ground level should be provided in all bike parking areas |
Location and access | Access to facilities should be convenient; where access is by sidewalk or walkway, curb ramps should be provided where appropriate and be ADA compliant. Parking facilities intended for employees should be located near the employee entrance, and those for customers or visitors near the main public entrances. (Convenience should be balanced against the need for security if the employee entrance is not in a well traveled area). Bike parking should be clustered in lots not to exceed 16 spaces each. Large expanses of bike parking make it easier for thieves to operate undetected |
Locations near transit stops | To prevent bicyclists from locking bikes to bus stop poles - which can create access problems for transit users, particularly those who are disabled - racks should be placed in close proximity to transit stops where there is a demand for short-term bike parking |
Locations within a campus-type setting | Racks are useful in a campus-type setting at locations where the user is likely to spend less than two hours, such as classroom buildings. Racks should be located near the entrance to each building. Where racks are clustered in a single location, they should be surrounded by a fence and watched by an attendant. The attendant can often share this duty with other duties to reduce or eliminate the cost of labor being applied to the bike parking duties; a cheaper alternative to an attendant may be to site the fenced bicycle compound in a highly visible location on the campus. For long-term parking needs of employees and students, attendant parking and/or bike lockers are recommended |
Locations within buildings | Provide bike racks within 50 feet of the entrance. Where a security guard is present, provide racks behind or within view of a security guard. The location should be outside the normal flow of pedestrian traffic |
Minimum rack height | To increase visibility to pedestrians, racks should have a minimum height of 33 inches or be indicated or cordoned off by visible markers |
Retrofit program | In established locations, such as schools, employment centers, and shopping centers, the City should conduct bicycle parking audits to assess bike parking availability and access, and add additional bike racks where necessary |
Signing | Where bike parking areas are not clearly visible to approaching cyclists, signs at least 12 inches square should direct them to the facility. The sign should give the name, phone number, and location of the person in charge of the facility, where applicable |
(C) Long-term bike parking. Long-term bike parking facilities protect the entire bicycle, its components and accessories against theft and against inclement weather, including snow and wind-driven rain. Examples include lockers, check-in facilities, monitored parking, restricted access parking and personal storage. Long-term parking facilities are more expensive to provide than short-term facilities, but are also significantly more secure. Although many bicycle commuters would be willing to pay a nominal fee to guarantee the safety of their bicycle, long-term bike parking should be free wherever automobile parking is free. Potential locations for long-term bike parking include large employers and institutions where people use their bikes for commuting, and not consistently throughout the day. An advantage of lockers is that they can be configured to more easily accommodate different styles of bicycles, such as recumbent bicycles.
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(Ord. passed 6- -2009)