U/B-2 CITY OF VANCOUVER M E M O R A N D U M From: CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Date: July 18, 1995 Refer File: 5553 To: VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL Subject: BICYCLE PARKING REQUIREMENTS (AMENDMENTS TO PARKING AND BUILDING BY-LAWS) еееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееее Council at its meeting on May 16, 1995, considered a Policy Report dated May 3, 1995, concerning bicycle parking requirements. At that time the report was referred to a Public Information Meeting on July 11, 1995, to provide an opportunity for the public to address Council concerning the proposed amendments to the Parking and Building By-laws. Final decision on the proposed amendments was intended to be made on July 18, 1995; however Council at that time deferred consideration to July 25, 1995. The following items are before Council for consideration: - U/B-2 Policy Report dated May 3, 1995, from the General Manager of Engineering Services; - U/B-2(i) Minutes of the Public Information Meeting of July 11, 1995; - U/B-2(ii) Memorandum dated July 12, 1995, from the General Manager of Engineering Services outlining bicycle parking options. CITY CLERK DSalmon:as CITY OF VANCOUVER M E M O R A N D U M From: CITY CLERK'S OFFICE Date: July 4, 1995 Refer File: 3062 To: VANCOUVER CITY COUNCIL Subject: BICYCLE PARKING REQUIREMENTS (AMENDMENTS TO PARKING AND BUILDING BY-LAWS) еееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееееее The Bicycle Advisory Committee at its meeting on June 21, 1995, when considering bicycle parking amendments to the Parking and Building By-laws made particular reference to items 1-10 and a-d contained on pages 2-4 of the Policy Report dated May 3, 1995, regarding this matter. The Committee noted many facilities that work are already at capacity with line-ups for showers. Also, the recommended amendments would decrease the standard from 1.5 to 1.25 bicycle parking spaces for typical market units, as well as not requiring showers in offices of less than 150 employees. It was further noted removing the need for fitting bicycle compounds with reinforcing bars was not a major cost saving item and provided less security for bicycles as well, especially if attendants leave for lunch, etc., or cyclists work late. The Committee agreed items 1, 6 and 8 in the above noted report do not address security, capacity or personal safety issues adequately and are not acceptable options, especially taking into consideration CityPlan and Safer City Task Force recommendations. ...2/After lengthy discussion, the Committee RESOLVED THAT the Bicycle Advisory Committee supports the proposed amendments to the Parking and Building By-laws as contained in the Policy Report dated May 3, 1995, regarding bicycle parking requirements, with the exception of: Amount of bicycle parking spaces (Class A) - The standards for non-residential uses can be reduced by approximately one-third from those proposed at Public Hearing, reflecting a mode share of about 2.5 to 3% rather tan 3 to 4%. Residential standards also can be reduced, reflecting that some residents (e.g. those with very expensive bikes) could rely on in-suite storage regardless of the facilities provided. For typical market units, the modified standard of 1.25 bicycle spaces per unit is suggested, compared with 1.5 spaces per unit standard presented at the Public Hearing and in effect in the current guidelines under which several buildings have been approved. (Item 1) Exception of reinforcing bar requirement - The regulation could be revised to remove the need for fitting bicycle compounds with reinforcing bars provided that the compound were within direct sight of a parking attendant. The attendant would have to be present regularly at least on weekdays during normal office hours. Should employment of a parking attendant be discontinued, then the owner would be obligated to add reinforcing bars. (Item 6) Threshold for requiring showers - The standard can be revised such that shower and change room requirements were not triggered until a minimum of six (versus four in the by- law proposed at the Public Hearing) Class A bicycle spaces were required. This means that a typical office of less than 150 employees would not be required to provide showers, etc. While this would reduce costs for many mid-sized developments, it also means that a number of cyclists would not be provided for in such projects. (*Item 8) (*NOTE FROM CLERK: Attached is a letter dated July 2, 1995, from the Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, providing additional information on this item.) ...3/AND FURTHER THAT additional study be done on the following: Maximum number of bicycles per enclosed parking area - The standard can be revised to permit up to 40, rather than 20, bikes to be parked within a locked enclosure. Bicycle rooms and compounds up to the larger size were observed by staff and reported to be secure. (Item 2) Location of bicycle parking - The regulation can be revised to permit bicycle parking to be more than one level below grade provided that an elevator were supplied offering convenient access to the outside for cyclists. This would allow builders to make better use of floor space and reduce costs, while slightly inconveniencing cyclists and other building occupants. (Item 3) Location of bicycle lockers - the regulation can be revised to permit placement of bicycle lockers at the head of a car parking stall. The requirement of an adequate access aisle would, of course remain. This may assist, for example, in cases where a standard-sized car stall can be converted to a combination small car stall and bicycle space. (Item 4) "John Whistler" John Whistler, Chair Bicycle Advisory Committee DSalmon:as Attachment.