No, not every business on N Sherman provides adequate bicycle parking. The current ordinance allows property owners that existed lawfully before adoption to forgo meeting bicycle parking requirements
MGO 28.004(4): “Any use, building, structure, or lot that is lawfully existing at the time of the adoption of this ordinance, or any subsequent amendment(s), may be continued, subject to the provisions in Subchapter 28N, Nonconformities” Additionally, I have found that even when bicycle parking is installed, the property owner generally does not understand how a bicyclist would use the parking, or what types of installations work better than others. This in turn frequently results in substandard bicycle parking (like the wheel-benders in front of Trendsetters, which actually do not meet current code for spacing, locking to the frame, or support): MGO 28.141(11) (b): Required short-term bicycle parking spaces shall be located in a convenient and visible area at least as close as the closest non-accessible automobile parking and within one hundred (100) feet of a principal entrance and shall permit the locking of the bicycle frame and one (1) wheel to the rack and shall support a bicycle in a stable position. No fee shall be charged for resident bicycle parking where free auto or moped parking is provided on-site. (e): Bicycle parking spaces shall be a minimum of two and one-half (2 ½) by six (6) feet in size, unless a rack is not the modular standard, in which case, space shall be two (2) feet by six (6) feet. There shall be an access aisle a minimum of five (5) feet in width. Each required bicycle parking space must be accessible without moving another bicycle and its placement shall not result in a bicycle obstructing a required walkway. Bicycle racks shall be installed to the manufacturer’s specifications, including the minimum recommended distance from other structures. Property Owners and maintenance contractors also tend to assume nobody will use bike parking in winter, and choose not to remove snow from the spaces, however, under MGO 28.141(8)(b): Snow Removal. In winter months, required parking areas, including bicycle parking areas, shall be cleared of snow within a reasonable time. Areas used for snow storage shall be approved by the zoning administrator. More often than not, I find that the bicycle racks are used for snow storage. And often, since property owners fail to consider the requirement to clear snow from bike racks, they tend to purchase racks that are very difficult to maintain in winter, then use the excuse that it is too expensive to clear snow from the bicycle parking areas. Businesses that have substandard bicycle parking are shooting themselves in the foot by not meeting the expectations of people who would prefer to shop by bicycle. As you stated earlier, “bikers should choose businesses based on how well they are treated”. From: Dorothy [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2015 7:13 PM To: Matthew Logan Subject: Re: [Bikies] [northsidediscuss] Tuesday March 24 | N Sherman I don’t know. Doesn’t everyone? From: Matthew Logan <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2015 6:58 PM To: 'Dorothy' <mailto:[email protected]> ; 'tim wong' <mailto:[email protected]> ; 'Grant Foster' <mailto:[email protected]> Cc: 'Dan Melton' <mailto:[email protected]> ; 'Bikies' <mailto:[email protected]> ; 'Northside Group' <mailto:[email protected]> Subject: RE: [Bikies] [northsidediscuss] Tuesday March 24 | N Sherman Dorothy, does Kavenaugh’s have bicycle parking? Last time I checked, there was none.
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