Vancouver, British Columbia, Bike Parking Regulations
The City of Vancouver, British Columbia, has established comprehensive bicycle parking regulations and design standards that differentiate between Class A and Class B bicycle parking. These regulations aim to ensure that both long-term and short-term bicycle parking facilities are secure, accessible, and meet the needs of cyclists across various developments. Class A parking is designed for long-term use, while Class B parking caters to short-term users.
Class A Bicycle Parking Requirements
Class A parking is intended for residents, employees, and long-term users who need secure and weather-protected spaces. It is typically required in residential, office, and institutional buildings where individuals need to store bicycles for extended periods.
- Class A spaces must be provided in secure, weather-protected areas such as bicycle rooms, compounds, or lockers.
- In residential developments, a minimum of 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit is required for units under 65 square meters, with more spaces required for larger units.
- In non-residential buildings, the number of Class A spaces is based on floor area or the number of employees. For example, office uses require 1 space per 170 square meters of gross floor area.
- At least 10% of Class A spaces must be individual lockers.
Class B Bicycle Parking Requirements
Class B parking is for short-term use by visitors or customers. These spaces are typically outdoors and near building entrances, offering easy access.
- Class B spaces must be located within 15 meters of the main building entrance and must be visible and well-lit for security.
- In retail and service developments, 1 Class B space per 340 square meters of floor area is required, with a minimum of six spaces for larger developments.
- Institutional uses, such as schools or hospitals, require Class B spaces based on the number of students or employees.
Design Standards for Class A Bicycle Parking
- Class A spaces must be located in secure rooms, lockers, or compounds that are enclosed and accessible only to authorized users.
- The spaces must be weather-protected and well-lit, with solid walls and a security system to monitor access.
- Bicycle rooms are limited to accommodating 40 bicycles, though this can be increased to 120 if the room is compartmentalized with lockable sections.
- Each Class A space must be at least 0.6 meters wide and 1.8 meters long for horizontal storage, with a minimum vertical clearance of 1.9 meters. Oversized spaces (2.4 meters in length and 0.9 meters wide) must be provided for at least 5% of the total number of spaces.
- No more than 30% of Class A spaces can be vertical, and stacked spaces must have lift-assist mechanisms.
Design Standards for Class B Bicycle Parking
- Class B racks must be designed to allow the bicycle frame and one wheel to be securely locked with a U-lock.
- Each Class B space must be at least 0.6 meters wide, with an access aisle of at least 1.2 meters in width.
- Class B racks must be located in areas that provide visual surveillance and sufficient lighting for security. If the racks are not easily visible to users, directional signage must be provided.
- Bicycle lockers can also be used for Class B parking, provided they meet the design standards for lockers, including secure locks and theft-resistant materials.
Table: Required Bicycle Parking Spaces by Land Use
| Building Classification | Required Class A Bike Parking Spaces | Required Class B Bike Parking Spaces |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital or other similar use. | A minimum of 1 space for every 17 employees on a maximum work shift. | A minimum of 6 spaces at each public entrance. |
| School – Elementary or Secondary; School – University or College. | A minimum of 1 space for every 17 employees and for secondary schools, universities or colleges, 0.4 space for every 10 students on a maximum attendance period. | A minimum of 0.6 space for every 10 students on a maximum attendance period except that elementary schools shall provide a minimum of 1 space for every 20 students. |
| Church, chapel, place of worship, or similar place of assembly. | No requirement. | A minimum of 6 spaces. |
| Theatre, auditorium, stadium, arena, or similar place with spectator facilities. | No requirement. | A minimum of 6 spaces for any portion of each 300 person seating capacity. |
| Office Uses | A minimum of one space for each 170 square metres of gross floor area. | A minimum of 6 spaces for any development containing a minimum of 2,000 square metres of gross floor area. |
| Retail and Service Uses | A minimum of one space for each 340 square metres of gross floor area. | A minimum of 6 spaces for any development containing a minimum of 1,000 square metres of gross floor area. |
| Hotel. | A minimum of 1 space for every 30 dwelling, housekeeping or sleeping units, or any combination thereof. | A minimum of 6 spaces for any development containing a minimum of 75 dwelling, housekeeping or sleeping units, or any combination thereof. |
| Manufacturing, Transportation & Storage, Utility & Communication Uses, Wholesale | A minimum of 1 space for each 1,000 square metres of gross floor area in the building or 1 space for every 17 employees on a maximum work shift, whichever is the greater. | No requirement. |
| Multiple Dwelling, Infill Multiple Dwelling, or three or more dwelling units in a Mixed-Use Residential Building, including live-work | A minimum of 1.5 spaces for every dwelling unit under 65 square metres. A minimum of 2.5 spaces for every dwelling unit over 65 square metres and under 105 square metres. A minimum of 3 spaces for every dwelling unit over 105 square metres. No requirement in an R1 district. | A minimum of 2 spaces for any development containing at least 20 dwelling units, and one additional space for every additional 20 dwelling units. |
The above information represents a partial list of the building classifications and their bike parking requirements for Vancouver, BC. Please refer to the links below for more detailed information.
Bicycle Room Requirements
- Bicycle rooms must have solid, opaque walls with security lighting and clear visibility from the entry door.
- The entry door must be at least 75 cm wide, constructed of steel, and equipped with high-security locks.
- Bicycle rooms are limited to 40 bicycles unless subdivided, and must be located no lower than one level below grade unless there is an elevator.
- Lighting must provide 160 lux at floor level with tamper-proof housing for fixtures.
End-of-Trip Facilities (Showers, Water Closets, Wash Basins, and Lockers)
End-of-trip facilities are required for non-residential buildings that provide Class A bicycle spaces. The number of facilities increases with the number of required Class A spaces.
The number of water closets, wash basins and showers required shall conform to requirements for Office and Retail and Service uses, and shall conform to End of Trip Facilities for all other uses.
Office, Retail and Service Uses
| Use | Water Closets | Wash Basins | Showers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office | 1 water closet for every 10 Class A bicycle spaces up to 50 spaces and one for every 20 spaces above 50 | 1 wash basin for any development requiring between 5 and 10 Class A bicycle parking spaces, plus one for every additional 20 spaces up to 50 spaces and one for every 40 spaces above 50 | 1 shower for every 10 Class A bicycle spaces up to 50 spaces and one for every 20 spaces above 50 |
| Retail and Service Uses | 1 water closet for every 10 Class A bicycle spaces up to 50 spaces and one for every 20 spaces above 50 | 1 wash basin for any development requiring between 5 and 10 Class A bicycle parking spaces, plus one for every additional 20 spaces up to 50 spaces and one for every 40 spaces above 50 | 1 shower for any development requiring between 5 and 10 Class A bicycle spaces, plus one for every 40 spaces above 10 |
End of Trip Facilities
| Required # of Class A Bicycle Spaces | Water Closets | Wash Basins | Showers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4-29 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 30-64 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 65-94 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| 95-129 | 8 | 4 | 8 |
| 130-159 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| 160-194 | 12 | 6 | 12 |
| Over 194 | 12 plus 2 for each additional 30 bicycle spaces or part thereof | 6 plus 2 for each additional 30 bicycle spaces or part thereof | 12 plus 2 for each additional 30 bicycle spaces or part thereof |
Each shower must be accompanied by a grooming station, equipped with a mirror, electrical outlet, and countertop space with a minimum width of 600 mm and a minimum depth of 250 mm.
Regional or Neighborhood Variations
The bicycle parking requirements apply citywide, but developments in high-density areas or specialized zones may have modified requirements, subject to approval by the Director of Planning.
Where to Find Official Regulations
The official bicycle parking regulations can be found in the City of Vancouver Parking By-law (Section 6: Off-Street Bicycle Space Regulations).
