California Building Code to Add Bike Parking Requirements

The California Building Standards Commission is updating its code to include bicycle parking requirements per a 2022 state law, writes Jared Sanchez in Streetsblog California.

The legislation matters because “Bicycle theft is widespread, and leaving a bike out in the elements can increase wear and cause it to require more frequent maintenance. With the popularity of e-bikes, theft is an even bigger consideration. So the availability of secure bike parking in residential buildings is essential for bike riders.”

Providing secure bike parking at home, work, and in public buildings can encourage more people to adopt biking as a daily transportation mode. Bicycle parking also takes up less space and costs less to include in new buildings.

According to advocacy organization CalBike, “The commission has proposed a change to require 0.5 long-term bike parking spots per unit in residential buildings. We think that’s not enough, and recommend doubling that to one spot per unit. These spots must include some that can accommodate longer or wider bikes, such as cargo bikes and adaptive bicycles. In addition, the parking area needs outlets for e-bike charging.”