Cincinnati's Planning Commission has just approved a new bicycle
parking ordinance that will require all new or expanded parking garages to provide bicycle parking.
The way that the
ordinance is written now would require new or expanded parking garages
to provide one bicycle parking space for every 20 motor vehicle
spaces. This ratio is comparable to other cities across the nation
that have recently implemented similar ordinances including Portland,
New York City, Charlotte, Cleveland, San Francisco, Kansas City and
Denver.
"Surveys by the
Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE)
have found that the lack of secure, weather-protected bicycle parking
facilities is a leading factor preventing people from cycling to work,"
said Melissa McVay, City Planner with the DOTE.
Should
a parking garage fail to supply the necessary bicycle parking, the City
can refuse to issue or renew their license. In the instance of very
large parking garages, there will be a limit of 24 total bicycle
parking spaces that need to be provided.
The ordinance also
specifies that the bicycle parking space shall be located inside the
parking garage and in an area that is protected from the weather.
Additionally, each of the bicycle parking spaces will have to be
equipped with a bicycle locker; securely anchored floor, wall or
ceiling rack; or some other similarly designed system for securing the
bicycle.
"I think it's really exciting that Cincinnati is going to be the
first city in the region to require bicycle parking in garages," said
McVay. "But, it is important to remember that this legislation is just
one of many steps that the City will ultimately take to make cycling
more convenient."
McVay went on to say that the City is currently working with the
Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation
(3CDC) to install bicycle parking at Fountain Square while they also
work on retrofits to several City-owned parking garages to meet the new
standard.
In unrelated bicycle parking news, construction is currently underway on the new Bike Center at the
Central Riverfront Park
that will include lockers, repair facility, showers and connection to
the riverfront trail system. And the City's first on-street bicycle
parking will be installed this April in Northside where one motor
vehicle space will be replaced by an on-street bicycle parking corral
with 12 bicycle parking spots.
Writer:
Randy A. Simes
Photography by David De Bol
Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter
@UrbanCincy
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