Camiros: Bicycle Parking Zoning Laws

Earlier this year, the city of Cleveland Heights hired the Chicago consulting firm Camiros to review how our zoning laws could be “greener.” Whether it’s to allow chicken coops on residential property, or to reduce the amount of asphalt at Severance Town Center, there are a number of things Cleveland Heights could do to become more environmentally sustainable. A few members of the CHBC had the opportunity to sit down with the firm to discuss the prospect of improving the city’s bicycle parking ordinances.

Below is the suggested improvements Camiros has made regarding bike parking. You can download  the newest version of the full report here.

Bicycle Parking

The Ordinance should require bike parking as part of new parking lots. Similar to vehicular parking requirements, certain uses would be required to provide bike parking. Generally the uses required to provide bike spaces include multi-family dwellings, retail, office, schools, churches, parks and entertainment uses. In addition to the number of bike spaces required, the provisions need to be supplemented with design and siting requirements:

• Bike parking facilities should provide racks or lockable enclosed lockers where the bicycle may be safely locked by the user. Structures that require a user-supplied locking device should be designed to accommodate U-shaped locking devices. All lockers and racks must be securely anchored to the ground or the building structure to prevent the racks and lockers from being removed from the location. The City could provide a list of preferred bike parking structures that meet the security, functionality and aesthetic needs.
• On smaller sites, accommodating the bike parking spaces on site may be difficult. The Ordinance should provide flexibility by allowing the developer to place racks in the public right-of-way where space is available. The property owner would need to make suitable arrangements with the City to allow bike racks in the public right-of-way.
• For residential uses, required bicycle parking should allow a variety of options for placement, such as in garages, storage rooms and other resident-accessible secure areas, and exclude space within dwelling units or on balconies.
• The City may want to consider requiring large office or institutional developments to incorporate facilities for bicyclists, such as showers and locker rooms.  Where these facilities are provided, a reduction in the number of required parking spaces should be offered.
• For parking lots over a certain size, a reduction in the number of parking spaces should be permitted when a certain number of bike spaces are provided.

If you’d like to get involved with the project, Camiros is hosting a town-hall meeting next week. Please attend!

When: December 13 at 7:30pm
Where: Cleveland Heights Community Center at 1 Monticello Boulevard
Why: To receive feedback from the community
RSVP: No

Thoughts? Leave a comment below