The lack of secure cycle parking at a journey’s end can be a disincentive to cycling for many people who may otherwise consider using a cycle for everyday travel requirements. The standards set out in this policy are intended to ensure safe and secure parking at the destination for those wishing to commute, or undertake other journeys, by cycle.

The standards differentiate between parking for employees and parking for visitors. Visitor parking is generally short-term and should be easily accessible to visitors arriving by cycle. Staff parking, on the other hand, will have to cater for longer stays, and needs to be secure enough to encourage employees to cycle to work. In these circumstances, visitor and staff parking will generally have different locational requirements, with visitor parking at or near the main entrance to a building, and staff parking within the building or a secure compound.

It is also recognised that a lack of showering and changing facilities at the journey’s end can be a disincentive to walking or cycling to work. In these circumstances, the provision of safe and secure facilities, particularly in locations in close proximity to cycle parking, is encouraged within new development or redevelopment schemes.

1. The Council will seek the provision of cycle parking, in line with the cycle parking standards, in new development and redevelopment schemes.

2. Wherever possible, employee parking should be located within buildings or a secure compound. Where such a location is not feasible, provision should be as close to the main entrance of developments as possible, in order that use is encouraged by the enhanced security offered by surveillance.

3. Visitor parking should be located at an easily accessible location close to, or within, the entrance area of the development in order to enhance security through surveillance.

4. Cycle parking should always be safe, sheltered and secure. Unless exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise, Sheffield type cycle racks (each comprising 2 spaces) are to be used (the Council’s Roads Development Guide provides a design specification).

5. The Council will encourage developers of employment sites to provide, wherever possible, showering and changing facilities as a means of promoting walking and cycling to work.

CYCLE PARKING STANDARDS

The standards set out below are intended to deliver a minimum level of cycle parking in new development and redevelopment schemes. In some instances, additional cycle parking may be appropriate, particularly at destinations expected to attract relatively high numbers of cyclists (e.g. adjacent to National Cycle Network routes or where mode-share targets, developed through Transport Assessments, indicate this would be necessary).

Whilst it is recognised that it may not always be appropriate to do so, developers are strongly encouraged to provide safe, secure and sheltered storage for bicycles in communal locations within the curtilage of flatted or tenemental type residential properties.

*1 space plus 1 space per 20 staff ensures a minimum level of staff provision at workplaces with fewer than 20 staff.

* This is a minimum standard and at stations with comparatively few peak hour trains it may be that provision based on such a standard will be insufficient. In these circumstances, the Council may require additional provision.

1. In certain instances parking levels have been set at a level roughly commensurate with a 5% mode share for cycling (e.g. 1+1 space per 20 staff at leisure/health developments). The Council’s stated aim is to double the number of trips by cycle by the end of 2002 and quadruple the number of trips by the end of 2012 (based on 1996 levels). This would approximate to 3% of journeys being by cycle by 2012. As developments are liable to have a lifespan well beyond 2012, the intention is to cater for a higher proportion of journeys by cycle that may result from the completion of the Glasgow Cycle Network (estimated completion date 2012).

2. After calculating the cycle parking requirements for any development, the number of cycle parking spaces should be rounded up to the nearest even number on the basis that each Sheffield stand can accommodate two cycles.

3. Wherever possible, cycle parking should be provided within the curtilage of the development site. In certain locations, e.g. the City Centre and other centres in the City’s hierarchy, it is recognised that this may not always be possible, particularly with regard to customer/visitor parking for shops. In these instances, the Council will often consider it more appropriate to provide cycle parking for general public use. Where this is the case, the developer may be asked to contribute to the cost of providing parking for general public use in the vicinity of the development.