Best Practices

TRANSPORTATION BEST PRACTICE

Bicycle Parking

New York City, NY

Purpose

To boost cycling as a mode of transportation throughout the City and aid in decreasing automobile traffic congestion, improving air quality, and ultimately reducing carbon emissions.

Outcomes

New York’s Department of Transportation conducted studies that showed cycling as increasing 116% between 2000 and 2008, with a 35% increase in the last year alone.

Background & Summary

Effective April 22, 2009, the Department of City Planning amended the Zoning Resolution to include indoor, secure, long-term bicycle parking requirements for new residential, community, commercial, and public parking buildings. With the present issue of automobile and subway congestion and a significant projected increase in population, the City implemented this legislation in order to address the adverse environmental effects stated.

The amendments to the Resolution require bicycle parking in new developments, substantial enlargements, and residential conversions for the following facilities:

1. Multi-family residential: This aims to provide parking where bicycles are usually stored, with the explicit prerequisite of 1 bicycle parking space per 2 dwelling units.
2. Commercial & Community Facilities: Ranging from office buildings, community centers, universities and colleges, to dormitories, the ultimate intent of the parking requirements is to support bicycle commutation. Thus 1 space per 10,000 square feet of floor area or enough spaces for approximately 3% of the buildings workforce must be accommodated.
3. Public Parking Garages: In order to support cycling as a premier transportation mode, the building must offer 1 space per 10 vehicle spaces.

Guidelines for the designated bicycle parking spaces include:

• One parking space requires 6-15 square feet, depending on the layout of the building and the most efficient use of the layout.
• The spaces must be enclosed yet accessible, and secured by a locked door or securely anchored rack for bicycles to be easily locked.
• Locations for bicycle parking may be provided on the ground floor, in the cellar, or outdoor behind buildings where automobile parking is already allowed.
• Examples of space-efficient parking systems include vertical racks, floor-mounted racks, double stacking systems, or other hanging systems.
• A waiver may be assigned to buildings where bicycle parking is identified as difficult or infeasible.

The amendment to the Zoning Resolution ultimately aims to increase bicycle use throughout the City and provide flexible solutions for a range of buildings and new construction.

Public Outreach & Education:

The Department of City Planning conducted numerous surveys to assemble pertinent reasons for amendment, ranging from 1999 to 2007; the studies found that the leading factors in preventing residents to cycle were a) lack of safe and secure bicycle parking facilities b) lack of storage area in residential buildings.

The text amendment was open to all community boards, borough boards, and borough presidents for review and comment.

Legal Issues:

After a study of the potential environmental impact of the proposed action, a “Negative Declaration” was issued and found pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR), Rules of Procedure of 1991, and Executive Order No. 91 of 1977.

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Last updated February 1, 2011

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