David Baker + Partners Architects: HOW TO: Bicycle Parking

HOW TO: Bicycle Parking Dbp Bike Parking Standards	more how-to's...
This custom bike rack was designed for San Francisco's Mission Bay project. Though capacity is limited to one bike per rack and the round tube makes it vulnerable to pipe-cutter-equipped thieves, it looks great and supports bikes securely. San Francisco official bike parking standards: SFMTA Bicycle Rack Location Guidelines Cities are increasingly allowing the conversion of on street automobile spaces to bikes, a great deal at a 12:1 parking ratio!	This is a nice design solution found in Berlin. Bicycle parking is an important element in urban and building design. Well done, it encourages bike riding by giving people secure places to lock or store their bicycles. Bike parking can be divided into two main classes, open parking (racks for visitors) and enclosed parking (for building residents and workers). Racks are often improvised, as in this example in Milan.
This design integrates the bike parking with the street tree module resulting in a ordered and attractive urban street scape design. U-rack fabricator and supplier: http://www.bikeparking.com This is the standard U-rack used in San Francisco's City Bike Parking Program. This is a stainless-steel rack—an upgrade from the normal galvanized version—which I prefer. With stainless, make sure to spec no clear overcoat, which would scratch and look terrible.	Our office has added a rack for visitors in the courtyard. We have several clients and consultants who ride to meetings. The steel straps on the bottom space these 3 racks at 30". this rack can hold 6 bicycles. Guest ParkingThis is best done with U-racks. Personally I think the standard U has a utilitarian charm. Racks can be ganged at 24" centers, allowing two bikes per U. The most important design criteria for U-racks is leaving clear access space on both ends. Frequently designers put a row of racks up against a wall or other obstruction, reducing their capacity by 50%. These O racks are a nice variation of the standard U. I'm partial to this galvanized finish which I find more interesting and authentic compared to brushed stainless steel.
This illustrates a vertical wall-mounted rack. Staggering allows the bikes to be located at 18" on center.	In this condo project the developer installed wall mounted bicycle storage racks that allow owners to have two bike spaces added to their car space. Secure Resident/Worker Parking This type storage is for residents and/or workers in a building. Although it can be accomplished with U-racks, a secure bike room is a much better option. Thieves steal bikes, and parts from bikes, even in locked garages. A comprehensive review of indoor bike parking is available at www.transalt.org/features/bikeparking.html. The Vertirack system is a good implementation of this concept. Manufactures web page at http://www.bikeparking.com/vertirack/.
Located in front of the Main Library in San Francisco, this on-street bicycle parking area replaced two car spaces with 38 bike spaces (you do the math). It also cleared the sidewalks for disabled people.	A huge bicycle parking garage by the main train station in Amsterdam. We have a long way to go here in the U.S. Public Bike Parking As bicycle use increases in urban areas, there eventually will need to be denser areas of public bike parking.
Ribbon racks do not provide good support or organization for bicycles. They also don't allow 3 point locking (both wheels and frame) like U racks.	Bike Parking Don'ts Many standard racks are poorly designed, such as the "ribbon" rack. It's better if the rack functions well as well as looks cool (not impossible, but requires some thoughtfulness).. But everything in Amsterdam isn't perfect!
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