User:Takerlamar/sandbox/Bicycle parking

Bicycle parking is a type of cycling infrastructure in a populated place that provides a facility for storing bicycles when they are not being used. Parking facilities for bicycles include racks, lockers and parking stations,^[1]. It is an important factor to encourage more people to cycle^[2] and its role in urban planning is studied through the discipline of bicycle transportation planning and engineering. As a result, provisions for bicycle parking may be included in municipal, provincial or other government policies and regulations.

Appropriate bicycle parking infrastructure, in addition to equipment such bicycle locks, offers a degree of security and may prevent bicycle theft. Ad hoc bicycle parking alongside railings, signs, and other street furniture is a common practice and may be recognized through formal legal arrangements.^[3] Bicycle parking at mass transit stations is also an important factor that facilitates mixed-mode commuting.

Bicycle parking is an important part of cycling infrastructure and as such is studied in the discipline of bicycle transportation planning and engineering. This is because secure bicycle parking is a key factor that influences the decision to cycle.^[4]

As a rule, where cycling is encouraged as an alternative to motoring, efforts should be made to make bicycle parking more convenient and attractive to use than nearby car parking arrangements. This usually means providing a wide distribution of visible, clearly designated parking spots, close to the entrances of destinations being served.

Town planning policies and regulations increasingly require provisions for bicycle parking in new developments.^[5] Many mass transit stations include bicycle parking in the form of bike racks or purpose-built bicycle parking stations to facilitate mixed-mode commuting.

Similar to valet parking for cars, a similar service may be offered at special events such as festivals or meetings. This may also be provided in locations where bicycle parking is scarce such as universities or railway stations.^[6]

There are two overall categories of bicycle parking, formal and informal.

Formalised bicycle parking requires infrastructure that is specifically designed to be used for this purpose. When bicycle parking facilities are scarce or inadequate, nearby trees or parking meters are often used instead, creating informal bicycle parking spaces.

To be considered secure, parking facilities must be of a suitable design; allowing the bicycle to be locked via the frame (see bicycle parking rack). A readily observable location can also permit passive security from passers-by. Weather protection is also desirable. Sections of existing car parks can often be retrofitted as cycle parking, offering advantages of location, cover, security, and parking for more people.

Storage rooms or bicycle lockers may also be provided. In some cases, large concentrations of bike parking may be more appropriate, sometimes being supervised and sometimes fee-based. Examples include bicycle parking stations at public transport interchanges such as railway, subway, tram, bus stations or ferry ports where they may be useful in mixed-mode commuting.^[7]

Conversely, where cycling is seen as an unwelcome or inappropriate activity, or there is a lack of knowledge about best practices, bicycle parking may simply not be provided or else placed at awkward, distant, and out-of-sight locations.^[8] Cyclists may be expressly forbidden from parking their bicycles at the most convenient locations. In April 2007, the authorities at the University of California's Santa Barbara campus started confiscating bicycles parked at other than official bike racks.^[9] Some property owners or municipal authorities display signage on fencing to discourage bicyclists from locking their bicycles.

There are three categories of bicycle parking:^[10]

• Racks
• Lockers
• Cage

Types of bicycle parking

Name	Other names	Image	Description
Bicycle parking rack	Bike rack, bike hoop		A single piece of metal secured to the ground that is designed for a bicycle to be rested against and locked.
Wall loop	Wheelbender, slot stand[11]		Several small metal bars aligned closely together designed for a front bicycle wheel to be rested and locked. It is not considered a secure type of parking as the frame of a bicycle cannot be locked and risk that the wheel will bend due to the lack of support for the frame.[12]
Wave	Toast		A series of bicycle parking spaces spread over a single long piece of metal where wheels can be rested and locked. Similar to wall loops, it is not considered a secure type of parking as the frame of a bicycle cannot be locked and risk that the wheel will bend due to the lack of support for the frame.[11]
Post-mounted[13]	Pole, coathangar,[14]		A metal bar that is secured to an existing pole to improve security for locking a bicycle. Most commonly installed as a circle but other shapes may be used.[11]
Locker			Fully enclosed facility that can store an entire bicycle, usually metal. Provides protection from weather and theft. Used for medium to long-term bicycle storage, such as workplaces and railway stations.[13]
Two-tier	Dual height[13]		Allows for bicycles to be parked at two different levels to maximise the efficiency of space. Uses a mechanism to place and remove bicycles at a higher level and provides for locking both wheels and frames to the facility.[12]
Vertical	Wall-mounted		Any type of facility that provides for bicycles to be stored in a vertical position, typically side by side. This design is used to increase the number of bicycles that can be stored in an area with restricted space.
Tree	Upright bike rack		A type of bicycle parking that resembles the structure of a tree. There are various types that have been developed and may include elements of other types of bicycle parking.
Crossbar	Hitching rail[11]		A single rail attached to poles or against a wall that allows a wheel to be secured. Suitable for short-term parking only.[11]
Area	Mobility hub		A designated space for parking without a physical locking mechanism. Usually used for shared e-bike schemes and similar with their own internal locking mechanism. Also sometimes used for scooters and other small vehicles.
Informal			Example

Other than the type of physical infrastructure to be provided, there are several other design elements that are considered in bicycle parking.

Signs for bicycle parking are provided for wayfinding, compliance to permit or prohibit parking bicycles under certain conditions, or instruction to inform people how to use a facility.

Bicycle parking fixtures can be located in different types of places.

Typically public parking will be installed on footpaths in public rights of way. However, hoops, racks and other types of parking may also be located on the roadway as a type of parklet, often in place of kerbside car parking spaces.

Bicycle parking for private or semi-private uses will typically be located on private property.

Accessibility included.

There are many instances where facilities related to bicycles will be installed alongside bicycle parking spaces, particularly in facilities with higher capacities.

• Outline of cycling

• Victoria Transportation Policy Institute TDM Encyclopedia - Bike parking
• National Association of City Transportation Officials - Bike Parking