Bicycle parking facilities shall be provided for new buildings, addition or enlargement of an existing building, or for any change in the use that results in the need for additional vehicle parking facilities consistent with the parking requirements contained within Section 18.52.040. Bicycle parking facilities required by Section 18.52.040 may contain bicycle parking elements of the types described in subsection (a) below, and arranged according to the layout requirements described in (b) below. The department of planning and development services maintains a list of Approved, Conditionally Approvable, and Prohibited types of bicycle racks and bicycle lockers. Bicycle racks and lockers not on the "Approved" list must be approved by the director. Likewise layout diagram examples specifying clearances and other aspects of bicycle parking areas are also available from the department of planning and development services.
(a) Types of Facilities
Bicycle parking is designed for two types of uses: long-term and short-term. Depending on use, a bicycle parking facility may be a bicycle rack, a bicycle locker, or a multifamily dwelling unit storage locker, a restricted access enclosure, or a school bicycle enclosure as described below.
(1) Short-Term Bicycle Parking (Bicycle Racks)
Short-term bicycle parking is intended for shoppers, customers, and visitors who require bicycle storage for up to several hours.
(A) Bicycle Rack
An acceptable bicycle rack is a stationary object to which the bicycle user can lock the frame and one or both wheels of a bicycle with a user-provided high-security U-shaped lock (“U-lock”) or cable, and which is either anchored to an immovable surface or is heavy enough that it cannot be easily moved.
(i) Intended Use
Bicycle racks located in publicly accessible areas are intended for short- term parking, to encourage shoppers, customers, and visitors to use bicycles.
(ii) Performance
All bicycle racks provided pursuant to this ordinance shall support a bicycle by its frame in a stable upright position with both tires on the ground or floor, without damage to the bicycle or its finish. The parts of the rack that secure the bicycle shall resist disassembly and cutting with manual tools. Bicycle racks should provide independent access to parked bicycles without the need for awkward movements even when the rack is fully loaded.
(2) Long-Term Bicycle Parking
Long-term bicycle facilities are intended for bicyclists who need to park a bicycle and its components and accessories for extended periods during the day, overnight or for a longer duration. Long-term bicycle storage is typically for employees, students, residents and commuters. The facility frequently protects the bicycle from inclement weather. Four design alternatives for these facilities are as follows:
(A) Bicycle Locker
A bicycle locker is a fully enclosed space for one bicycle, accessible only to the owner or operator of the bicycle. It protects the entire bicycle, its components and accessories from theft and inclement weather, including wind-driven rain. Bicycle lockers may be pre-manufactured or may be designed for individual sites.
(i) Intended Use
Bicycle lockers are the preferred long-term storage option for employees or residents.
(ii) Locking Device
Internal Lock. A bicycle locker must be equipped with an internally mounted key-actuated or electronic locking mechanism, and not lockable with a user-provided lock. Groups of internal-lock bicycle lockers may share a common electronic access mechanism provided that each locker is accessible only to its assigned user.
External Lock. An external-lock such as padlock hasps are not acceptable for most uses. External lock bike lockers may be permitted in shopping centers with the approval of the director on a case-by-case basis.
(B) Restricted-Access Bicycle Enclosure
A restricted-access bicycle enclosure is a locked area containing within it one bicycle rack space for each bicycle to be accommodated, and accessible only to the owners or operators of the bicycles parked within it. The maximum capacity of each restricted-access bicycle enclosure shall be 20 bicycles unless approved by Transportation Division staff. The doors of such enclosures must be fitted with key or electronic locking mechanisms that admit only users and managers of the facility. The enclosure doors must close and lock automatically if released.
In multiple-family residential developments, a common locked garage area incorporating bicycle racks shall be deemed a restricted-access bicycle enclosure provided that the garage is accessible only to the residents of the units for whom the garage is provided. In such cases it is preferable that the bicycle storage area within the garage be separately enclosed and secured to enable access only by bicycle owners.
Intended Use
A restricted access enclosure is an alternative long term bicycle storage option for commercial and multifamily residential projects.
(C) Multifamily Dwelling Unit Storage Locker
A multifamily dwelling unit storage locker is a locked area separate from the dwelling unit, secured by a lock that can be opened only by the occupants of the respective dwelling unit.
Intended Use
A multifamily dwelling unit storage locker is intended for long-term storage of household possessions that are not kept in the dwelling unit, including bicycles.
Configuration
In multiple-family developments, the required bicycle storage and household storage areas for each dwelling unit may be combined into a multifamily dwelling unit storage locker assigned to that unit, provided that the total space requirement shall be the sum of the household storage and bicycle storage requirements computed separately. A usable space 2' wide by 6' long shall be provided for each stored bicycle.
(D) School Bicycle Enclosure
A school bicycle enclosure is a locked area at a primary, middle or secondary school, containing within it one bicycle rack space for each bicycle to be accommodated. The doors of such enclosures must be fitted with locking mechanisms that admit only school and maintenance staff, and must close and lock automatically if released. School bicycle enclosures should be kept locked except during student arrival and departure periods. The student bicycle parking requirement for a school may be provided by two or more enclosures where students arrive on bicycles from two or more points along the school perimeter.
(b) Bicycle Facility Design Standards
(1) Location
(A) Neither short-term nor long-term bicycle parking areas shall be located inside occupied buildings.
(B) All bicycle parking areas shall be located at street floor level, or equivalent in a parking garage. In underground garages, only long-term bicycle parking is allowed and such bicycle parking facilities must be located near employee elevators or stairwells.
(C) Short-term bicycle parking shall be located within 50 feet of a main visitor entrance(s). Where there is more than one building on a site or where a building has more than one main entrance, the short-term bicycle parking must be distributed to serve all buildings or main entrance(s).
(D) Long-term bicycle parking shall be situated at least as conveniently as the nearest convenient vehicle parking area.
(2) Layout
(A) Convenient access to bicycle parking areas shall be provided. Where access is via a sidewalk or pathway, or where the bicycle parking area is next to a street, curb ramps shall be installed where appropriate. A twenty-four-inch side clearance shall be provided between walls or other obstructions and the centerline of the bicycles parked on the nearest bicycle rack.
(B) Bicycle facilities shall be separated from vehicle parking and circulation areas by a physical barrier or by a distance sufficient to protect parked bicycles from damage by vehicles, including front and rear overhangs of parked or moving vehicles.
(C) If more than 10 short-term spaces are required, at least fifty percent (50%) must be covered.
(D) A four foot (4') wide aisle shall be provided to allow bicycles to maneuver in and out of the bike parking areas and between rows of bicycle parking facilities. An aisle into which the door of a bicycle locker opens shall be at least 5' wide. Aisle width shall be measured between the rectangular areas that bicycles will occupy when parked on bicycle racks and/or the surface area occupied by bicycle lockers
(E) Where a public sidewalk or walkway serves as an aisle of a bicycle parking area and bicycles are parked perpendicular to that sidewalk or walkway, an additional 12" of paved area shall be provided between the sidewalk and the area occupied by adjacent parked bicycles.
(F) Where a public sidewalk or walkway serves as an aisle of a bicycle parking area and the doors of bicycle lockers open toward that sidewalk or walkway, the lockers shall be set back so an open door does not encroach onto the main travel width of the sidewalk or walkway.
(3) Paving
Bicycle parking areas shall be paved. Aisles and primary access areas shall be paved with asphalt or concrete. Bicycle parking areas may be surfaced with alternate paving materials as approved by the director.
(4) Lighting
Lighting of not less than one foot-candle of illumination at ground level shall be provided in both exterior and interior bicycle parking areas.
(5) Signage
(A) Where bicycle parking areas are not clearly visible to approaching bicyclists, signs shall be posted at the building entrance to direct cyclists to the facilities. (MUTCD sign D4-3 for bicycle parking). For bicycle parking areas intended for visitors, that entrance shall be the building’s main entrance. For bicycle parking areas intended for employees, that entrance shall be the employee entrance served by the bicycle parking area.
(B) Long-term bicycle parking areas that incorporate bicycle lockers shall be identified by a sign at least 12"x12" in size that lists the name or title, and the phone number or electronic contact information, of the person in charge of the facility.
(C) Signs for restricted-access bicycle enclosures shall state that the enclosure shall be kept locked at all times.
(6) Approval
(A) The director shall have the authority to review the design of all bicycle parking facilities required by this chapter with respect to safety, security, and convenience.
(B) Where bicycle lockers or restricted access bicycle enclosures are required for a use, the director may approve secure bicycle storage facilities providing the same level of security. The Transportation Division must approve bicycle parking areas located in parking garages.
(Ord. 5494 § 3, 2020: Ord. 4964 § 3 (part), 2007)