Bike Parking Site Layout

The layout of your bicycle parking design will determine how accessible and usable your space is. In this video we’ll cover recommended layouts and spacings that will help you achieve good bike parking.

For your bike parking layout, strive for adequate clearance between the bike rack and items such as walls, walkways, fixed objects, and streets.

In general, bike parking should allow for:

• Enough end and side clearance to operate bicycles into and out of the bike parking area
• Adequate clearance around the rack for cyclists to access and securely lock the bicycles to the rack - from the side
• Access to the rack from all sides so all available parking spaces may be used

In laying out your bike parking, the orientation of the bike racks to surrounding elements will determine the placement and spacing. Let’s first take a look at a parallel bike parking layout.

Layouts of Bike Racks Parallel to Walls/Curbs

Start by placing bike racks a recommended distance of 48-inches – 36-inches minimally - from walls, planters, light posts, street signs, sidewalks and other fixed objects.

When placing multiple bike racks, there should be a distance of 72-inches, recommended or 48-inches minimum – between each rack.

To create aisles and allow room for pedestrian walkways, racks should be set at a minimum of 96-inches from buildings.

There should also be minimally, 24-inches between the bike rack and the street.

These spacings allow cyclists to:

• Maneuver into and out of the parking area,
• Effectively park their bicycle on either side of the rack, and
• give cyclists adequate room to lock their bicycles from the side

Let’s rotate 90-degrees and take a look at a perpendicular bike rack layout.

Layouts of Bike Racks Perpendicular to Walls/Curbs

In this configuration, racks should also be setback a recommended 48-inches from obstructions or 36-inches minimally.

There should then be a recommended distance of 48-inches between bike racks or 36-inches minimum.

Because the length of the bicycle takes up more area in this configuration, racks will need to be set back a minimum of 132-inches from buildings for aisles and pedestrian walkways.

They will also need to be 36-inches recommended or 24-inches minimally from streets.

Laying Out Bike Racks with Multiple Rack Elements

For bike racks with multiple rack elements, the distance between each rack is typically fixed. The distance between each rack should allow for access to the bicycle from the side.

For racks that are at the same vertical height, the spacing should be around 24-inches.

For racks that are vertically-staggered, the space between racks can be as close as 15 inches. This reduces the overall footprint of the bike racks and allows you to maximize the number of bicycles that can be secured in the bike parking area.

Regarding setbacks from walls, refer to the manufacturer’s suggested distances as it will vary based on specific rack designs.

Bike parking often fails when bike racks are placed too close to buildings, streets and other obstructions. Use the information in this video to help with the success of your next project.