Fairfax County Considering Bicycle Parking Minimums

Fairfax County could soon require developers to include bicycle parking in new projects as part of its Parking Reimagined project, reports Matt Blitz for FFX Now.

“The requirement would vary based on density — essentially the inverse of the tiered system proposed for car parking, which the county hopes to reduce in high-density, transit-oriented areas.” The bike parking requirement would increase as car parking requirements decrease, according to a white paper by county staff.

“At a minimum, any new construction will have to provide two bicycle parking spaces. From there, the number of required spaces will depend on the type of construction, location, and number of vehicle parking spaces.” Most new projects would have to match 5 to 15 percent of the car parking spots they provide, with developments in denser areas having higher requirements.

Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB) President Bruce Wright, whose organization has advocated in favor of bike parking requirements, praised the move, saying, “Creating more space for secure bike parking encourages greener transportation, frees up land for housing or green space, and most importantly, is more equitable.”