The provisions of this Chapter shall be known as the Bicycle Parking Requirements. The purpose of these regulations is to require secure and adequate long term and short term parking for bicycles, thereby promoting alternative transportation, providing additional, more sustainable transportation choices for residents and commuters, and reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Except as may otherwise be specified in Chapter 17.101E for the D-CE Zones, these requirements shall apply to the indicated activities as specified hereinafter. See Chapter 17.101E Central Estuary District Zones Regulations for bicycle parking regulations specific to Boat and Marine-Related Sales, Rental, Repair and Servicing for the D-CE Central Estuary District Zones.

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13168, § 5(Exh. A-2), 6-18-2013; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

A.

Bicycle Parking Shall be Provided for New Facilities and Additions to Existing Facilities. Bicycle parking as prescribed hereafter shall be provided for activities occupying facilities, or portions thereof, which are constructed, established, wholly reconstructed, or moved onto a new lot after the effective date of the bicycle parking requirements, or of a subsequent rezoning or other amendment thereto establishing or increasing bicycle parking for such activities, except to the extent that existing bicycle parking exceeds such requirements for any existing facilities. The required amount of new bicycle parking shall be based on the cumulative increase in floor area, or other applicable unit of measurement prescribed hereafter, after said effective date.

B.

Bicycle Parking Shall be Provided for Remodels. "Remodel" means any proposed physical improvement of an existing structure which requires a building permit but does not include New Facilities or Additions to Existing Facilities.

1.

Remodel projects that are over ten thousand (10,000) square feet and have an estimated construction cost, excluding seismic retrofit costs, greater than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) shall provide the number of short-term bicycle parking spaces prescribed in Sections 17.117.090 to 17.117.120. This amount shall be adjusted to account for changes in the Building Cost Index for the San Francisco Bay Region, as reported in the Engineering News Record. The adjustment shall be made annually, starting in 2009, no sooner than one year from adoption.

2.

Remodel projects that are over fifty thousand (50,000) square feet and have an estimated construction cost, excluding seismic retrofit costs, over one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) shall provide, in addition to short-term bicycle parking, the number of long-term bicycle parking spaces and shower and locker facilities prescribed in Sections 17.117.090 to 17.117.130. This amount shall be adjusted to account for changes in the Building Cost Index for the San Francisco Bay Region, as reported in the Engineering News Record. The adjustment shall be made annually, starting in 2009, no sooner than one year from adoption.

C.

Bicycle Parking Shall be Provided for New Living Units in Existing Facilities. If any facility, or portion thereof, which is in existence on the effective date of the bicycle parking requirements, or of a subsequent rezoning or other amendment thereto establishing or increasing bicycle parking requirements for an activity therein, is altered or changed in occupancy so as to result in an increase on the number of residential living units therein, bicycle parking as prescribed hereafter shall be provided for the new units. However, such bicycle parking need be provided only in the amount by which the requirement prescribed hereafter for the facility after said alteration or change exceeds the requirement prescribed hereafter for the facility as it existed prior to such alteration or change; and such new bicycle parking need not be provided to the extent that existing bicycle parking exceeds the latter requirement.

(Ord. No. 13172, § 3(Exh. A), 7-2-2013; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. No. 12939, § 4(Exh. A), 6-16-2009; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

Whenever a single lot contains different activities with the same bicycle requirement, the overall requirement shall be based on the sum of all such activities, and the minimum size prescribed hereafter for which any bicycle parking is required shall be deemed to be exceeded for all such activities if it is exceeded by their sum. Whenever a single lot contains activities with different bicycle parking requirements, the overall requirement shall be the sum of the requirements for each activity calculated separately; provided, however, that the minimum size prescribed hereafter for which any bicycle parking is required shall be deemed to be exceeded on said lot for all activities for which the same or a smaller minimum size, expressed in the same unit of measurement, is prescribed, if said minimum size is exceeded by the sum of all such activities on the lot

(Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

In the case of activities for which the Director of City Planning is required to prescribe a number of bicycle parking spaces or for which this Chapter is not clear or does not prescribe a number of spaces, the Director of City Planning shall base his or her written determination on the number of employees, residents or customers and the nature of operations conducted on the site. Any such written determination shall he subject to appeal pursuant to the administrative appeal procedure in Chapter 17.132.

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

A.

Long-term Bicycle Parking. Each long-term bicycle parking space shall consist of a locker or locked enclosure providing protection for each bicycle from theft, vandalism and weather. Long-term bicycle parking is meant to accommodate employees, students, residents, commuters, and others expected to park more than two hours.

B.

Short-term Bicycle Parking. Short-term bi-cycle parking shall consist of a bicycle rack or racks and is meant to accommodate visitors, customers, messengers, and others expected to park not more than two hours.

(Ord. No. 13241, § 5(Exh. E), 7-1-2014; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

A.

All bicycle parking facilities shall be dedicated for the exclusive use of bicycle parking.

B.

All required short-term bicycle parking spaces shall permit the locking of the bicycle frame and one wheel with a U-type lock, support the bicycle in a stable position without damage to wheels, frame, or components, and provide two (2) points of contact with the bicycle's frame.

C.

All required long-term bicycle parking spaces, with the exception of bicycle lockers, shall permit the locking of the bicycle frame and one wheel with a U-type lock, and support the bicycle in a stable position without damage to wheels, frame, or components.

D.

Bicycle parking facilities shall be securely anchored so they cannot be easily removed and shall be of sufficient strength and design to resist vandalism and theft.

E.

The overall design and spacing of such facilities shall meet the standards of Section 17.117.070 or as may be modified.

(Ord. No. 13241, § 5(Exh. E), 7-1-2014; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

Required bicycle parking shall be placed on site(s) as set forth below:

A.

A bicycle parking space shall be at least two and a half (2.5) feet in width by six (6) feet in length to allow sufficient space between parked bicycles.

B.

An encroachment permit may be required from the City to install bicycle parking in the public right-of-way.

C.

Bicycle parking facilities shall not impede pedestrian or vehicular circulation.

1.

Bicycle parking racks located on sidewalks should maintain a minimum of five and one-half (5.5) feet of unobstructed pedestrian right-of-way outside the bicycle parking space. For sidewalks with heavy pedestrian traffic, at least seven (7) feet of unobstructed right-of-way is required.

D.

Bicycle parking facilities are subject to the following standards:

1.

Racks shall be located with at least thirty (30) inches in all directions from any vertical obstruction, including but not limited to, other racks, walls, and landscaping. General Food Sales, Full-service restaurant, Limited Service Restaurant and Cafe, and Large-Scale Combined Retail and Grocery Sales Activities are encouraged to locate racks with a thirty-six (36) inch clearance in all directions from any vertical obstruction, including but not limited to, other racks, walls, and landscaping.

2.

A minimum four (4) foot wide aisle of unobstructed space behind all required bicycle parking shall be provided to allow for adequate bicycle maneuvering.

E.

Bicycle parking facilities within auto parking facilities shall be protected from damage by cars by a physical barrier such as curbs, wheel stops, poles, bollards, or other similar features capable of preventing automobiles from entering the bicycle facility.

F.

Bicycle parking facilities shall be located in highly visible well-lighted areas. In order to maximize security, whenever possible short-term bicycle parking facilities shall be located in areas highly visible from the street and from the interior of the building they serve (i.e. placed adjacent to windows).

G.

The location and design of required bicycle parking shall be of a quality, character and color that harmonize with adjoining land uses. Required bicycle parking shall be incorporated whenever possible into building design or street furniture.

H.

Long-term bicycle parking shall be covered and shall be located on site or within five hundred (500) feet of the main building entrance unless approved by the Director of City Planning with a written Discretionary Waiver. The main building entrance excludes garage entrances, trash room entrances, and other building entrances that are not publicly accessible.

I.

Discretionary Waiver. The long-term bicycle parking location requirement of five hundred (500) feet may be waived in writing by the Director of City Planning when said activities are located within one thousand (1,000) feet of a proposed or existing bike station or similar high-capacity bicycle parking facility. Any determination on such waiver shall be subject to appeal pursuant to the administrative appeal procedure in Chapter 17.132.

J.

Whenever any required bicycle parking is proposed to be provided on a lot other than the lot containing the activity served, the owner or owners of both lots shall prepare and execute to the satisfaction of the City Attorney, and file with the Alameda County Recorder, an agreement guaranteeing that such facilities will be maintained and reserved for the activity served, for the duration of said activity.

K.

Short-term bicycle parking shall be placed within fifty (50) feet of the main entrance to the building or commercial use and should be in a well trafficked location visible from the entrance. When the main entrance fronts the sidewalk, the installer may obtain an encroachment permit from the City to install the bicycle parking in the public right-of-way. The main building entrance excludes garage entrances, trash room entrances, and other building entrances that are not publicly accessible.

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13241, § 5(Exh. E), 7-1-2014; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. No. 12939, § 4(Exh. A), 6-16-2009; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

A.

If after calculating the number of required bicycle parking spaces a quotient is obtained containing a fraction of one-half (½) or more, an additional space shall be required; if such fraction is less than one-half (½), it may be disregarded.

B.

When the bicycle parking requirement is based on number of employees, the number of spaces shall be based on the number of working persons on the lot during the largest shift of the peak season. If the Director of City Planning determines that this number is difficult to verify for a specific facility, then the number of required long-term bicycle parking spaces shall be a minimum of two (2) spaces or five percent (5%) of the amount of required automobile spaces for the proposed facility, whichever is greater.

C.

When the bicycle parking requirement is based on number of seats, in the case of pews or similar facilities, each twenty (20) inches shall be counted as one seat.

D.

The calculation of short-term bicycle parking may include existing racks that are in the public right-of-way and are within fifty (50) feet of the main entrance.

(Ord. No. 13241, § 5(Exh. E), 7-1-2014; Ord. No. 12939, § 4(Exh. A), 6-16-2009; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

Subject to the calculation rules set forth in Section 17.117.080, the following minimum amounts of bicycle parking are required for all Residential Activities and shall be developed and maintained pursuant to the provisions of Article II of this Chapter (If the property is a BART owned parcel subject to Assembly Bill (AB) 2923 (2018), the minimum number of secure (long-term) bicycle parking spaces shall be one space per dwelling unit):

(Ord. No. 13763, § 5, 10-3-2023; Ord. No. 13677, § 4(Exh. A), 1-18-2022; Ord. No. 13666, § 3(Exh. A), 11-16-2021; Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13241, § 5(Exh. E), 7-1-2014; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. 12899 § 4, Exh. A (part), 2008; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

Subject to the calculation rules set forth in Section 17.117.080, the following minimum amounts of bicycle parking are required for the specified Civic Activities and shall be developed and maintained pursuant to the provisions of Article II of this Chapter:

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. No. 12939, § 4(Exh. A), 6-16-2009; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

Subject to the calculation rules set forth in Section 17.117.080, the following amounts of bicycle parking are required for the specified Commercial Activities and shall be developed and maintained pursuant to the provisions of Article II of this Chapter:

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13241, § 5(Exh. E), 7-1-2014; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. No. 12999, § 4(Exh. A), 3-16-2010; Ord. No. 12939, § 4(Exh. A), 6-16-2009; Ord. 12899 § 4, Exh. A (part), 2008; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

Subject to the calculation rules set forth in Section 17.117.080, the following minimum amounts of bicycle parking are required for the specified Industrial, Agricultural and Extractive Activities and All Other Activities and shall be developed and maintained pursuant to the provisions of Article II of this Chapter:

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. No. 12999, § 4(Exh. A), 3-16-2010; Ord. No. 12939, § 4(Exh. A), 6-16-2009; Ord. 12899 § 4, Exh. A (part), 2008; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), adopted March 15, 2011, changed the title of Section 17.117.120 from "Required bicycle parking—Industrial, manufacturing and all other activities" to "Required bicycle parking—Industrial and all other activities." The historical notation has been preserved for reference purposes.

Subject to the calculation rules set forth in Section 17.117.080, the following amounts of shower facilities and lockers are required per gender for the specified activities and shall be developed and maintained pursuant to the provisions of Article II of this Chapter:

(Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. 12899 § 4, Exh. A (part), 2008; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

A variance may be granted if the applicant can make the variance findings contained in Section 17.148.050. In making a variance determination, the following additional considerations should be taken into account:

1.

The variance, if granted, will not be contrary to the policies included in the Bicycle Master Plan.

2.

Consideration can be afforded to a proposal if incorporation of the bicycle parking would be detrimental to other bicycle or pedestrian facilities.

3.

Consideration can be afforded to a proposal with a site access that is in excess of the street grade criteria established by the Bicycle Master Plan.

4.

In consideration of what is physically feasible, the proposal meets as many of the bicycle parking requirements as possible to provide a form of storing bicycles in a safe, secure and accessible manner.

(Ord. No. 12939, § 4(Exh. A), 6-16-2009; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)

The total number of required off-street automobile parking spaces may be reduced at the ratio of one automobile space for each six (6) bicycle spaces provided in excess of the requirements in this Chapter. The bicycle parking provided for this automobile parking credit shall include both long-term and short-term bicycle parking in proportion to the minimum long-term and short-term requirements for the given project. The total number of required off-street automobile parking spaces cannot be reduced by more than ten percent (10%).

(Ord. No. 13763, § 5, 10-3-2023; Ord. No. 13357, § 3(Exh. A), 2-16-2016; Ord. No. 13064, § 2(Exh. A), 3-15-2011; Ord. 12884 § 2 (part), 2008)