The D.C. Council next week is expected to adopt legislation that could dramatically increase the number of parking spaces for bicyclists, a bill praised by the cycling community but criticized by property owners as oppressive overkill.
The measure mandates that all apartment buildings with more than eight units provide one bicycle parking space for every four residential units, demands that commercial landlords deliver enough bicycle parking to match at least 10 percent of the number of available automobile spaces, and requires the installation of bicycle racks at the Wilson Building for no less than 16 riders.
Introduced by Ward 6 Council Member Tommy Wells, the legislation won preliminary council approval in July.
“Secure and ample bike parking is certainly one of the barriers” to creating a more bicycle-friendly community, said Eric Gilliland, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclists Association. “The more bike parking spaces, the better.”
Gilliland said his group takes frequent calls for help from residents of small apartmentswho have no place to store their bike.
The measure’s provisions have sparked concern among commercial and residential property owners who fear the one-size-fits-all space mandates are onerous and will reduce already limited parking for vehicles, said Nicola Whiteman, vice president of government affairs with the D.C. Apartment and Office Building Association. Many residential buildings have little surplus indoor space, she said, and the racks set aside by businesses are often underused.
The bill includes a hardship waiver for existing residential complexes.
Wells said Wednesday he is considering “tweaking” the measure to exempt certain residential properties, such as those exclusively for seniors who are unlikely to get around by bike. But the goal remains to support and encourage alternative transportation by removing obstacles, he said.
“If nobody in the building wants or needs bike parking, then we’re looking at an existing building not having to put in bike parking unless a resident requests it,” Wells said of his possible amendment.
Also under the measure:
» Report on availability of bicycle parking spaces at buildings occupied by the D.C. government
» Prepare a strategic plan to increase parking for cyclists citywide
» Provide detailed report on bicycle parking plans for the new baseball stadium.
