U/B-2(ii)
CITY OF VANCOUVER
M E M O R A N D U M
ENGINEERING SERVICES
July 12, 1995
MEMO TO: Mayor and Council
COPY TO: Ken Dobell, City Manager
Maria Kinsella, City Clerk
FROM: Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: BICYCLE PARKING REQUIREMENTS
(AMENDMENTS TO PARKING AND BUILDING BY-LAWS)
Over the last several months, City Council has been considering a number of amendments
to the Parking and Building By-Laws to reflect upgraded standards for bicycle parking
and shower facilities. The last meeting occurred on the evening of July 11, 1995 when
Council received public input with regard to the standards. At that time, Council was
advised that this issue would be on the July 18, 1995 Agenda. The purpose of this
memo is to outline the bicycle parking options in a manner which will facilitate
decision-making.
There are two general options for Council consideration as follows:
1. The proposals brought forward to the Public Hearing on October 20, 1994, which
generally reflected the recommendations of the Bicycle Advisory Committee and
other groups representing the cycling community.
2. Revised amendments following the Council Workshop, and submitted to Council on
May 16, 1995 in a report dated May 3, 1995, which generally reflect the opinions
of the development community.
It is recommended that the Bicycle Parking Requirements, as considered by Council on
May 16, 1995, be approved, with a number of options listed for Council consideration.
These options, which were presented at the Public Information meeting, range from the
higher standards listed first to the lower standards.
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RECOMMENDATION AND CONSIDERATION ITEMS:
RECOMMENDATION:
A. THAT revised amendments to the Parking By-Law, dealing with the Bicycle
Parking Requirements, generally in accordance with Appendix A, be approved
in place of corresponding amendments submitted to Public Hearing on
October 20, 1994, as further amended by the options below:
CONSIDERATION: (Staff support the options underlined)
(1) Class A Requirements:
a) Office, Retail and Services Uses
(i) 1 per 750 m2
GFA
OR
(ii) 1 per 1000 m2 GFA
b) Hotel use
(i) 1 per 20 rooms
OR
(ii) 1 per 30 rooms
c) School and Hospital Employees
(i) 1 per 25 employees
OR
(ii) 1 per 35 employees
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d) Market Residential
(i) 1.5 per unit
OR
(ii) 1.25 per unit
e) Other Miscellaneous Categories
(i) reflecting a 4% mode split equivalent
OR
(ii) reflecting a 3% mode split equivalent
(2) Bicycle Room/Compound Capacity
(i) maximum 20 bicycles
OR
(ii) maximum 40 bicycles
(3) Location of Bicycle Parking
(i) no more than 1 level below grade
OR
(ii) more than 1 level below grade O.K. if
elevator convenient
(4) Location of Bicycle Lockers
(i) not at the head of a parking space
OR
(ii) at head of a parking space allowed
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(5) Variable Dimensions
(i) not allowed
OR
(ii) allowed
(6) Reinforcing Bar Requirement for Bicycle Compounds
(i) required, no exceptions
OR
(ii) required, except where there is
adequate supervision by garage
attendant
(7) Protection from the Elements
(i) wind and rain
OR
(ii) rain only
OR
(iii) no requirement
RECOMMENDATION:
B. THAT the motion to amend the Building By-Law to require shower and change
facilities for non-dwelling uses, which require the provision of bicycle
parking (approved by Council on July 26, 1994), be rescinded and in its
place revised amendments to the Building By-Law, generally in accordance
with Appendix B, be approved as further amended by the options below:
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(1) Shower and Change Room Requirements
(a) Threshold for Showers
(i) 4 class A spaces
OR
(ii) 6 class A spaces
(b) Initial Requirements
(i) 1 shower for each sex for up to 29
spaces
OR
(ii) 1 generic shower for up to 9 spaces
(c) Sharing with Fitness Centres
(i) not addressed
OR
(ii) allowed, provided shower/change
facilities meet the standards and
accessible to cyclists
We believe that higher standards should be achieved in the Office/Commercial sector
because of increasing transient bicycle usage. The higher standards reflect a 4% mode
split, and we are presently at a 2% mode split into the Downtown during a typical
summer work day. This trend in bicycle use is increasing, and it's prudent to go with
the higher standards at this time. The higher standard should be for both numbers of
bicycle parking spaces, as well as for shower and change room requirements.
The same case cannot be made for the Market Residential sector, and we believe the
lessor number of 1.25 spaces per unit is appropriate. In the next few years, the
majority of new spaces will be built in this sector.
With regard to bicycle parking design standards, greater design flexibility can be
achieved using the post-workshop standards, which provide for the following:
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- a maximum of 40 bicycles for the bicycle room compound capacity;
- location of bicycle facilities below grade if the security provisions are
provided, and that there is an outside elevator access;
- bicycle parking allowed at the head of a car parking space;
- greater flexibility in the bicycle parking dimensions; and
- protection from the rain only, for visitor bicycle parking.
The only area where a relaxation is not recommended is in the reinforcing bar
requirements for bicycle compounds. It is recommended that reinforcing bars be
required in all cases, noting that this is a small cost and provides increased
security at all times.
Once these decisions are made, the appropriate By-Laws will be adjusted for submission
to Council for enactment. Staff will be available at the Council meeting to respond
to any questions.
D.H. Rudberg, P.Eng.
DHR:jt General Manager of Engineering
Services
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