See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback.
Label:
Information
Quality bike rack design and proper bike rack spacing are fundamental aspects of bike parking.
Good bike parking consists of two equally important factors: quality bike rack design and proper bike rack spacing. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) installs "staple-style" bike racks in the public right-of-way for short-term use. This style of rack accommodates most sizes and types of bikes and is widely considered to be the best among different bike rack designs.
A "staple-style" bike rack supports bikes with two vertical points of contact, which prevents them from falling over easily. This rack allows for both the frame and one wheel to be locked with a u-lock, which is a best practice for securing bicycles.
Bike rack spacing relative to other objects and to each other is equally as important as the bike rack design. Both of these aspects combined influence the quality of bike parking facilities.
Bike rack design best practices
| Bike rack design feature | Why this is important |
|---|---|
| Has two points of vertical contact to the bike frame. | Allows for upright support; bikes easily fall over when there is only one point of contact to the rack. |
| Made of durable metal tubing: schedule 40 steel pipe or minimum 11-guage tubing, and minimum ¼ inch thickness. Diameter between 1 1/2 - 2 inches. | Thinner materials are flimsy and can bend or buckle under force. They can also be more easily cut through. On the other hand, tubing greater than 2 inches in diameter may prohibit being able to lock one wheel and the bike frame to the rack with a u-lock. |
| Do not need to lift bike to park it at rack. | Some bike styles are extremely heavy such as e-bikes and cargo bikes. Others, such as recumbents, are awkward to lift. Additionally, some people may have physical limitations preventing them from lifting their bikes. A good bike rack should not require someone to lift their bike into place. |
| Minimum 30 inches tall (32-36 inches is preferred) and 18 inches wide between the two points of contact. | Taller racks often interfere with bike handlebars which prevent being able to lean the bike against the rack with two points of contact and then lock one wheel and the bike frame to the rack with a u-lock. |
| Does not have gaps where both width and length are between 3.5 inches and 9 inches in width. | Children can trap their heads in gaps this size. |
Bike rack spacing best practices
Please note: the spacing recommendations below are not City of Portland development code requirements. These are best practices. Please refer to Bicycle Rack Zoning Code for the City of Portland for more information about development code requirements.
| Bike rack spacing guidelines | Why this is important |
|---|---|
| A rack must be spaced so it can be easily accessed from both sides. (See images #1 and #4 below). | Bike racks are intended to have bikes parked on both sides. |
| Set racks back far enough from walls, trees, signposts and other street furnishings. (See images #2-9 below). | Bikes should not touch or collide with anything when parked at a rack. |
| Racks must be set back far enough from the edge of a sidewalk. (See images below for minimum setbacks depending on context). | Parked bikes should not hang over the curb and risk getting struck by vehicles or obstruct a curbside bike lane. |
| Multiple bike racks placed in horizontal or vertical rows must have enough space between them. | Placing multiple racks too close together makes the racks difficult to use, causes parked bikes to get tangled with each another, or are completely unusable. |
Minimum sidewalk width clearances
To ensure there is sufficient space for pedestrians to use the sidewalk without obstructions, and in adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), PBOT uses the following sidewalk width guidelines for siting bike racks.
| Sidewalk width | Allowed orientation of bike racks | Minimum sidewalk width clear of obstructions |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 9 feet | Bike racks not allowed on sidewalk | n/a |
| Greater than 9 feet and less than 10 feet | Parallel to the curb (See image # 4 below) | 5 feet 6 inches |
| Between 10 feet and 12 feet | Parallel to the curb (See image #4 below) | 6 feet |
| Greater than 12 feet and less than 15 feet | Angled to the curb (See image #5 below) | 6 feet |
| 15 feet or greater | Perpendicular to the curb (See image #6 below) | 8 feet |
Bike rack spacing diagrams
Please note: the spacing recommendations below are not City of Portland development code requirements. These are best practices. Please refer to Bicycle Rack Zoning Code for the City of Portland for more information about development code requirements.
The following diagrams illustrate how to ensure sufficient room for parking, locking and accessing bikes at bike racks in the public right-of-way. Placing racks closer than these minimum spacing guidelines results in bikes being unable to fit at racks, bikes touching or colliding with walls, trees and street furnishings, and bikes tangling with one another, making the bike racks obsolete.
Note: The recommended spacing guidelines and setbacks are always preferred but the minimum ("min") measurement is acceptable.
1. Bikes parked on either side of a bike rack
Spacing requirement: 6' by 4'
2. Distance from a wall (perpendicular)
Setback: Recommended: 2'3", Min: 2'
3. Distance from a wall (parallel): See image #2 above
Setback: Recommended: 3', Min: 2'
4. Distance between multiple racks placed end to end or parallel to the curb
Spacing: Recommended: 5'6"; Min: 3'6"
Setback from curb: Recommended: greater than 2' but in alignment with other street furnishings; Min: 2'
Min. sidewalk width: 9'. Sidewalks narrower than this cannot have bike racks.
Measured on center: Min: 6' between racks
5. Distance between multiple racks angled to the curb
Spacing: Recommended: 36"; Min: 34"
Setback from curb: Recommended: 2'3"; Min: 2'
Min. sidewalk width: 12'
6. Distance between multiple racks perpendicular to the curb
Spacing: Recommended: 4'; Min: 3'
Setback from curb: Recommended: 2'3"; Min: 2'
Min. sidewalk width: 15'
7. Distance from trees and streetlights
Spacing: Recommended: greater than 2'6"; Min: 2'6"
8. Distance from fire hydrant
Spacing: Min: 5'
9. Distance from bus stop
Spacing: Min: 30'
Measured from bus stop sign against the direction of travel. For articulated or "double" sized buses the distance is 60'.
Asphalt -vs- Concrete
The type of surface bike racks will be mounted on, whether asphalt or concrete, is important. Here are the main differences.
| Asphalt | Concrete |
|---|---|
| Asphalt is pliable and moves under repeated, heavy loads. | Concrete is very sturdy and compact and does not move under repeated, heavy loads. |
| Due to asphalt's pliability, it is not appropriate for individual racks because they would push over with enough force. | Due to how sturdy concrete is, individual racks can be installed using a concrete drop-in sleeve anchor. |
| Only appropriate for racks that come in sets welded or attached to a metal bar at the bottom of the racks (i.e. bike corrals). | Unnecessary to install the aforementioned style of racks required for asphalt; individual racks are recommended. |
As a best practice, choose welded sets of racks with a low-profile rail or flat bar across the bottom. PBOT uses 5/16". Any higher and the racks require lifting a bike into place over the rails. Higher rails also capture dirt, debris and water inside of the frame, making them messy, unattractive to use, and very difficult to clean.