Municipal Bike Parking Requirements

Compiled January 1988 by Arthur Ross, Madison Department of Transportation,
PO Box 2986, Madison, WI 53701-2986, (608)266-6225
Land Use Madison, WI Palo Alto, CA Boulder, CO Eugene, OR Portland, OR Austin, TX Gainesville, FL Seattle, WA Davis, CA
Multi-family 1 per unit 1 per unit 10% of auto 1 to 2 per unit High density only: 1 per 5 to 10 units none 10% to 25% of auto Generally, 10% of auto for uses requiring more than 20 auto spaces Downtown, 5% of auto for all major new developments 2 per unit
Hotels/Motels 1 per 3 rooms 10% of auto 10% of auto 10% of auto 1 per 20 auto, minimum 5 1% of auto 10% of auto Not specified, determined during the design review process
Schools K-6: 1 per 10 employees plus students; 7-college: 1 per 4 employees plus students K-8: 1 per 3 students; 9-12: 1 per 2 students 10% of auto 10% of auto K-12: 1 per 10 students; college: 1 per 10 autos 5% of auto K-6: 300% of auto; 7-9: 200% of auto; 10-12: 100% of auto; other: 10%-20% of auto
Commercial 1 per 10 autos (=1 per 20 employees) 10% of auto 10% of auto 10% of auto 1 per 20 auto, minimum 5; Limited & neighborhood, minimum 3 5% of auto 5% of auto
Retail 1 per 10 autos (=1 per 3000 sq.ft.) 10% of auto 10% of auto 10% of auto 1 per 20 auto, minimum 5 5% of auto 10% of auto
Manufacturing 1 per 10 autos (=1 per 20 employees) 10% of auto 10% of auto 10% of auto 1 per 20 auto, minimum 5; some uses, minimum 2 5% of auto 5% of auto
Recreation 1 per 40-100 seats; 1% of person capacity (10% of auto) 30% of auto 10% of auto 10% of auto 1 per 20 auto, minimum 10 5% of auto varies, 5-25% of auto
Exemptions Single and 2-family residential, warehousing & distribution, mortuaries, auto services, day care centers, drive-up windows Drive-in theaters, horticulture, mineral resources mining & recovery Cemeteries, billboards agricultural uses, pet services, auto services, camp grounds, resource extraction, airports, equipment sales & service, funeral, cemetery Auto wrecking, junkyards & salvage yards; part of central city district
Notes Minimum of 2 spaces. Total reduced to half of listed after first 50 spaces are provided. Allows deferral of up to half of requirement. Allows deferral of up to half of requirement. Minimum of 3 spaces. Total reduced to 5% after first 50 spaces are provided. Covered parking often required If 10 or more spaces required, half must be covered 10% of auto for all uses in shopping center districts & non-exempt sections of central city district. 15% of auto for all uses in neighborhood shopping districts.
Bike Rack Specifications Structures that require a user-supplied locking device shall be designed to accommodate U-shaped locking devices Varies, using a Type I, II, III system. Type I includes lockers, check-in systems, monitored and restricted access parking. Type II allows both wheels and frame to be secured with a user-supplied lock (without a cable or chain) and the lock is shielded from vandalism. Type III is a stationary object to which a bicycle can be secured with the user supplying both lock and cable or chain. Types are specified for each use. For example: multifamily residential-type I; retail-type II, covered; schools-type III, enclosed. Lockers or medium security racks in which both the bicycle frame and wheels may be locked by the user Locking shall be provided for all required spaces (Type III) Bicycle racks shall accommodate (i)Locking the frame and both wheels to the rack with a high-security U-shaped shackle lock, if the bicyclist removes the front wheel; (ii) Locking the frame and one wheel to the rack with a high-security U-shaped shackle lock, if the bicyclist leaves both wheels on the bicycle; and (iii) Locking the frame and both wheels to the rack with a chain or cable not longer than 6 feet without the removal of the front wheel. Type I, II, III system, with type specified for each use. For example: transportation terminals, half at least type II with remaining half at least type I; general retail services, at least type II; consumer convenience services, half at least type II, with remaining half at least type III. All required bicycle parking facilities shall be from an approved list of bicycle parking devices maintained by the Department of Community Development. Other bicycle parking devices may be used if it can be established to the satisfaction of the Building Official that they are equivalent to any devices on the approved list in function, quality, and construction.

Last updated January 10, 1996 by Doug Mink dmink@cfa.harvard.edu

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