Planning your Outdoor Bike Parking Area

A bike parking area at a park or school, on a city street, or outside of any building is a valuable asset. More people are using cycling as a way to stay healthy, save money, and stay out of traffic jams. Because of the increased numbers of bicycle commuters, there is a rising need and responsibility to provide adequate bike parking for cyclists. Having the right plan for your bike parking area will ensure it is a convenient and effective space to park bicycles.

Layout

Placing bicycle racks in the right location can ensure convenience as well as added security. Bicycle parking should be positioned out of the way of traffic so as not to impede the normal flow of pedestrians or vehicles. Bike racks should be located within close proximity to building entrances; a common recommendation is that bike parking should be no further from a building or park then the closest vehicle parking spot. The bike parking area should be well-lit so that cyclists can maneuver safely and see what they are doing when they are locking and unlocking their bicycles. When possible, racks should be placed in a covered area to protect against weather.

Floor Plan

Although you may be tempted to minimize the area dedicated to bike parking, not providing enough space between bike racks and next to buildings can make it difficult to move and park bikes. Each rack in your bike parking area should be separated from buildings and walkways by at least 6 feet. There should be ample room between bike racks to allow cyclists to maneuver between racks, even when other bikes are parked there. The diagram below provides an example of appropriate spacing. Reference the product features chart on this page for footprints, rack dimensions and other details.

Security

Bike racks should be permanently anchored to the ground to provide a safe and reliable place to secure bicycles. Saris provides a variety of anchor kits to accommodate different surface types where bike races are commonly mounted. Visit our anchor kits section to learn more . In addition to being securely anchored, the bicycle parking area should be visible to passersby and in a well-lit area in order to deter theft and tampering with the bicycles.

A well-planned bike parking area that is secure, convenient and easy to use will encourage more people to ride. If you would like assistance planning a bike parking area or to get a quote, fill out a quote form online , send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 1-800-783-7257.

Download a .pdf of our outdoor bike parking guidelines.

Bicycle parking should be positioned out of the way of traffic so as not to impede the normal flow of pedestrians or vehicles. Bike racks should be located within close proximity to building entrances.

There should be ample room between bike racks to allow cyclists to maneuver between racks, even when other bikes are parked there.