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Bicycle Specifications for Developers
 Specifications for inverted "U" racks.
- U racks are designed to hold two bikes (counts as 2 spaces), one on each side, with middle of the bike leaning against the rack (see photo) Often these are installed incorrectly by a contractor so that only one side is useful.
- Fore and aft distances should be 24 to 36 inches to allow room for the bikes wheels to stick out on each end. If surface mounted to concrete, tamper-proof expansion anchors should be used. A standard bike takes up about 6 feet in length.
- Gangs of racks (multiple racks on a common base) may be easier to install as they need fewer anchors. Each rack element (the "U") should be 30 to 36 inches apart so two bikes can be accommodated on each "U".
- Arlington County specifications for inverted "U" bike racks are available in Portable Document Format (PDF)
 Class 1 Bicycle Storage Options
- Many people think the class 1 storage has to be in the garage, but it does not. Class 1 storage could be in a lockable ground floor room or some other agreed upon location. A ground floor room has the advantage of cleaner facilities, fewer conflicts with automobiles, and easier access to the outside. Some buildings have it on the ground floor with a separate door to the sidewalk.
- If you have 8 feet or more of unobstructed ceiling height in the area for storage, a double decker rack may be the optimal answer. Please check with the manufacturer on ceiling height requirements for different rack designs. They will need a minimum of 13 feet in one direction inside the enclosure for loading bikes onto the racks.
- Key fob access is best, if the building is going to have it. It much easier to administer electronic fob rights than to manage keys.
- Pay attention to size of the lockers and the numbers racks per Sq. Ft., and to locker room/shower requirements.
- For more information, see "Arlington Bicycle Parking Class I Standards" (PDF)
Class 3 Visitor Racks
Visitor racks need to be on the exterior of the building, 50 feet or less from the main entrance ( or main and retail entrances) of the building. They need to be readily visible to a person coming to the building to access the main or retail exterior entrances.
Bike Rack Examples, Good and Bad
Bike Rack Plans
- Plan reviewers are looking for clear plans for bike racks so that the contractor can install them once, successfully, and so plan reviewers can see that there is enough space around the rack that makes them useable.
- Please show all installation dimensions in a drawing, or call-out drawing, related to building objects for both interior and exterior racks.
- Make sure that the racks are installed far enough away from walls, bollards, parking meters, the curb or other objects to make them useful.
- Visitor racks are to be installed exterior to the building.
- Developers can also propose a specific rack design to us for approval.
- For examples of bike rack plans, see these Dimensional Call Out Drawing Examples (PDF)
- Feel free to call if you have any questions about bike facilities: (703) 228-3717. TDD: 711
Bike Rack Requirements for LEED Certification
- For commercial or institutional buildings, provide secure bicycle racks and/or storage (within 200 yards of building entrance) for 5% or more of all building users (measured during peak times) AND provide showers and changing facilities in the building or within 200 yards of the entrance for 0/5% of FTE occupants
- For residential buildings, provide covered storage facilities for securing bicycles for 15% or more or building occupants (no showers required)
- For LEED requirements, Commercial bike storage doesn’t have to be covered or Class 1 – just safe and secure (i.e., well lit, well traveled, etc).
- Residential storage does have to be covered (i.e.,in the garage, or under a shed, or in an out building)
- Contact for LEED:
Joan B. Kelsch
Environmental Planner
Arlington County Government
2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 710
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 228-3599 TDD: 711
TDD relay service for deaf and hard of hearing people in Virginia, Maryland, or D.C.: 711
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