Bicycle Parking Requirements

The availability of parking is critical to encouraging bicycling and is a key element of Alameda's bicycle facilities network. Bicycle parking is required by the Alameda Municipal Code Section (30-7.15) and by the City's Bicycle Facility Design Standards (starting on pg. 37).

When Is Bicycle Parking Required?

Bicycle parking is required for projects with new buildings, new units, conditional use permits, expansions of nonresidential buildings, or changes in use. The amount of bike parking spaces required depends on the proposed use of the site (e.g. Restaurant, Office, Hotel). Appendix B: Standards for Bicycle Parking Spaces in the Alameda Municipal Code (attached), provides a list of specific uses and the number of short and long term spaces required.

  • Short-term bike parking is designed to be used for a few hours or less, such as by customers and visitors. It is usually provided as bike racks that are accessible to all.
  • Long-term bike parking is designed to be used for a half day or longer, such as by employees. It is usually provided as secured lockers, or a cage or room.

What Information Should I Include in My Submittal?

When submitting for a project, the following information is required:

  • Site plans showing bicycle parking location, type (short/long), and clearance requirements.
  • A numeric table outlining the number of required and proposed short and long-term bicycle parking spaces.
  • Manufacturer's specifications for rack/locker type, including clearance requirements.

Short-Term Rack Design Requirements

Short-term bike racks must meet the requirements listed in the Bicycle Facility Design Standards (pg. 37):

  • Support a bicycle in at least two places to prevent it from falling over.
  • Allow the locking of the frame and at least one wheel with a U-lock.
  • Be securely anchored to the ground by cast-in place or surface mounted methods (See Bicycle Facility Design Standards pg. 45).
  • Resist cutting, rusting, bending, and deformation.
  • Not include any protrusions that would prevent a bicycle from fitting snugly against the rack.

Examples of acceptable racks include U-Racks and Loop Racks; other styles may be considered for approval by the city if they meet all of the criteria listed above. For a comprehensive list of rack vendors, see attached vendor list.

Long-Term Parking Design Requirements

Long-term bicycle parking may be provided in one of three ways (for more details for each, see the Bicycle Facility Design Standards (pg. 46)):

  • Bicycle Lockers – Fully-enclosed storage units which can be locked providing secure parking for one bicycle. Lockers must:
    • Complement the aesthetic character of the site.
    • Be shown on the site plan with the locker size and all manufacturer clearance requirements.
  • Bicycle Cage – Fully-enclosed and covered, storage area in which bicyclists lock their bikes to racks installed in the cage. Cage must:
    • Have installed racks that meet all the rack requirements listed in Short-Term Rack Design Requirements.
    • Be secured and offer access only to people locking their bikes.
    • Be shown on the site plan with rack type, location and all manufacturer clearance requirements.
  • Bicycle Room – Fully-enclosed storage room in which people lock their bikes to racks. A bicycle room can also feature amenities such as bike pumps and basic tools. A bike room must:
    • Have racks installed inside the room that meet all the rack requirements listed in Short-Term Rack Design Requirements. Racks may also be wall-mounted.
    • Allow easy access by elevator or ramp to the ground level.
    • Be secured and only offer access to people locking their bikes.
    • Be shown on the site plan with rack type, location and all manufacturer requirements.

Staff Contact Info

Rochelle Wheeler, Sr. Transportation Coordinator
Email: Transportation@alamedaca.gov
Phone: 510-747-6800

Standards for Bicycle Parking Spaces & Development and Redevelopment Projects

Residential

Multi-unit with private garage

  • Long Term: None
  • Short Term: 0.05 per bedroom (2 minimum)

Multi-unit without private garage

  • Long Term: 0.5 per bedroom (1 per unit minimum)
  • Short Term: 0.05 per bedroom; 0.1 per bedroom if above 30 units (2 minimum if less than 4 units; 6 minimum if 4 or greater units)

Hotel/motel

  • Long Term: 1 per 25 rooms (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 2% of max. daily attendance (2 min.)

Residential care facility

  • Long Term: 1 per 20 employees or 70,000 square feet (sf) floor area, whichever is greater (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 25 rooms (2 minimum)

Institutions or Places of Assembly

Libraries, museums, art galleries

  • Long Term: 1 per 10 employees (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 4,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)

Churches, theaters, auditoriums, lodges and mortuaries

  • Long Term: 1 space per 40 fixed seats or 1 per 4,000 sf floor area, whichever is greater (2 min.)
  • Short Term: 1 space per 40 fixed seats or 1 per 2,000 sf floor area, whichever is greater (2 min.)

Bowling alley

  • Long Term: 1 per 10 alleys (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 2 alleys (2 minimum)

Night clubs, dance halls

  • Long Term: 1 per 5,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 5,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)

Public buildings, municipal and education

  • Long Term: 1 per 10 employees and 1 per 5 students of planned capacity (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 3,000 sf floor area or 1 per 20 students of planned capacity, whichever is greater (2 minimum)

Child care facilities, including family day care

  • Long Term: 1 per 20 employees (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 20 students of planned capacity (2 minimum)

Skating rinks and swimming pools

  • Long Term: 1 per 5,000 sf water or skating area (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 1,000 sf water or skating area (2 minimum)

Commercial or Office Uses

Marinas

  • Long Term: 1 per 5,000 sf (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 2 spaces at each public entrance (2 min.)

Retail, banks, minor repair services

  • Long Term: 1 per 10,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 2,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)

Restaurants

  • Long Term: 1 per 5,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 1,500 sf floor area (2 minimum)

Office

  • Long Term: 1 per 10,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 2,500 sf floor area (2 minimum)

Medical service

  • Long Term: 1 per 12,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 2,500 sf floor area (2 minimum)

Work/live studios

  • Long Term: 1 per 4 units (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 20 units (6 minimum)

Manufacturing and Industrial Uses

Warehouse, storage

  • Long Term: 1 per 8,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 2 spaces at each public entrance (2 min.)

Manufacturing, major

  • Long Term: 1 per 8,000 sf floor area (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 2 spaces at each public entrance (2 min.) 

Off-street parking lots and garages open to general public

  • Long Term: 1 per 20 motor vehicle parking spaces (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: Minimum 6 spaces or 1 per 20 motor vehicle parking spaces

Park and Ride Lots

  • Long Term: Minimum of 4 spaces or 1 space per 10 automobile spaces
  • Short Term: Minimum of 6 spaces or 1 per 10 auto spaces

Parks and Recreation Sites

  • Long Term: To be determined on the basis of similar use for park type (2 minimum)
  • Short Term: 1 per 4,000 sf land area (2 minimum)

Bicycle Parking Rack and Locker Manufacturer & Vendor List

American Bicycle Security Company

Address: P. O. Box 7359 Ventura, CA 93006
Phone number: 800-245-3723
Email: turtle@ameribike.com
Website: http://www.ameribike.com
Products: racks, lockers

Bike Gard

Address: PO Box 520 Rexburg, ID 83440
Phone number: 208-356-0744
Email: sales@bikegard.net
Website: N/A
Products: lockers

CORA Bike Rack

Address: Washington (state)
Phone number: 800-354-8624
Email: info@cora.com
Website: http://www.cora.com
Products: racks, lockers, shelters

SCH Enterprises LLC

Address: Portland, OR
Phone number: 800-644-8467
Email: operations@schenterprisesllc.org
Website: www.schenterprisesllc.org
Products: racks, lockers

Creative Metalworks LLC

Address: P.O. Box 565 Dayton, OR 97114
Phone number: 888 - BIKE RAX (888-245-3729)
Email: merrill@creativemetalworksllc.com
Website: www.creativemetalworksllc.com
Products: racks, shelters

Cycle Safe

Address: 947 Forest Hills Avenue, Suite C Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Phone number: 888-950-6531
Email: N/A
Website: www.cyclesafe.com
Products: racks, lockers

DeroRacks, Inc.

Address: 1429 Washington Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55454
Phone number: 888-337-6729; SF rep
Email: dero@dero.com
Website: www.dero.com
Products: racks, lockers, shelters

eLock Technologies LLC / BikeLink

Address: 800 Heinz Avenue, Studio 11 Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone number: 510-549-9258
Email: info@elocktech.com
Website: http://www.bikelink.org
Products: lockers

Hannan Specialties / DuraLocker

Address: 4019 Leos Lane Unit #3 Carmichael, CA 95608
Phone number: 800-722-2453
Email: hannansp@pacbell.net
Website: N/A
Products: racks, lockers

Huntco

Address: P.O. Box 10385 Portland, OR 97296-0385
Phone number: 503-224-8700
Email: sales@huntco.com
Website: www.huntco.com
Products: racks, lockers

MadRax

Address: 2700 Laura Lane Middleton, WI 53562
Phone number: 800-448-7931
Email: sales@madrax.com
Website: www.madrax.com
Products: racks, lockers

Park-a-Bike

Address: 2021 Arden Way Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone number: 800-481-8524
Email: chris.dominguez@parkabike.com
Website: www.parkabike.com
Products: racks, lockers, shelters

Phoenix Iron Works

Address: 499 Embarcadero, Bldg 23 Oakland, CA 94606
Phone number: 510-229-0438
Email: piw19012004@yahoo.com
Website: N/A
Products: racks

Saris Cycling Group

Address: 5253 Verona Road Madison, WI 53711
Phone number: 800-783-7257
Email: N/A
Website: www.saris.com
Products: racks

Sportworks NW

Address: 15540 WoodRed Rd. NE, Bldg A-200 Woodinville, WA 98072
Phone number: 888-661-0555
Email: salesandsupport@sportworks.com
Website: www.sportworks.com
Products: racks, transit racks

The Palmer Group

Address: 1072 Folsom St. #328 San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone number: 888-764-2453
Email: info@bikeparking.com
Website: www.bikeparking.com
Products: racks, lockers, cages

NOTE: Custom racks can be manufactured by metal working shops and artists. These racks must still comply with City of Alameda's Bicycle Facility Design Standards.

The City of Alameda does not endorse or recommend any specific vendor. This list is provided for informational purposes only.

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