How Boulder Can Improve Bicycle Parking at Low Cost

Boulder City Council has adopted bicycle parking and theft reduction as workplan priority for 2026.

That effort includes the aim of accelerating the deployment of best-practice bicycle parking infrastructure, a process that has been mostly stagnant in recent years other than investments coming with new buildings as required by city code since 2014 (section 9-9-6-e).

What follows are some ideas for low-cost initiatives that can drive high-bicycle parking infrastructure in Boulder.

1. Beacon for best-practice facilities

Create a guide to best practice and community need for developing bicycle parking facilities, aimed at the city’s many stakeholders who influence the bike parking landscape, including property owners/managers (large and small), business/retail tenants, community institutions (e.g., CU, RTD, BVCP, etc), community development and improvement organizations, service providers, citizens, and other interested parties. Potential elements:

  1. Translate the city’s existing definitions (e.g., treatment of short- and long-term bike parking in 9-9-6-e of city code and drawings for “inverted U” bike racks in the design and construction standards), along with other considerations (e.g., ABPB and NACTO standards), into easy-to-access explanations of the “what” of bike parking along with “why,” how,” and other considerations like anticipating/overcoming challenges for non-experts.

  2. Assert a clear, accessible perspective on bicycle parking for Boulder to serve as groundwork for wider planning and communication about bicycle parking efforts and a point of entry for the wide array of interested parties.

  3. Start by being very simple and as a “101” guide, and expand from there, both in terms of type of content and methods of engagement.

This initiative elevates the idea that high-quality bicycle parking is key transportation infrastructure, and individual facilities on public and private property are all important for developing that infrastructure.

2. Parking network planning with integration into key community plans  

Develop plans and principles to drive the timely, cost-effective diffusion of bicycle parking at large-scale, and then incorporate those key community planning exercises–such as the BVCP update currently under way, TMP (or similar strategic transportation planning), bicycle network planning, high-level city strategic plan, and similar. Potential elements:

  1. Create a new strategic incorporation of bicycle parking into bicycle network design.

  2. Develop a map-based gap analysis of the existing vs desired condition, with consideration of priority areas for target improvement. 

  3. Reflect on current developments, such as the recent elimination of motor vehicle parking minimums, which creates more need and opportunity to deploy bicycle parking, as well as the changing nature of bikes and micromobility that are creating greater needs in terms of both quantity and vehicle/equipment access. 

  4. Consider development to enable higher levels of bicycle mode use for a wider array of demographics in the future.

  5. Develop management logic and metrics that show how developing a strong community network of best-practice bicycle parking can measurably drive bicycle mode use and related goals such as bicycle modeshare, vehicle miles traveled reduction, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and more multimodal access and transportation equity.

This initiative is related to initiative #1, “Beacon for best practice facilities,” but focused more on the development of a collective community-wide network, versus the details of individual facilities.

Also like #1, this initiative could start very simply, and focus on key principles and concepts to be integrated into the BVCP update currently under way.

3. Modeling of best practices in city-run spaces

Develop a written policy for the development and management of bicycle parking on city property, on city rights-of-way, and for city departments/teams that influence bicycle parking. Potential considerations:

  1. Where geographically are top opportunities to add new bicycle parking facilities

  2. When/how to know if more capacity needs to be added–and how to plan for such capacity expansion proactively 

  3. When/how to potentially repurpose motor vehicle parking for bicycle parking

  4. Standards or processes for removing bicycle parking (and when not to)

  5. Standards for siting bikeshare parking that may impact existing bicycle parking. 

In addition to implementing best practice, showcase it and use the examples and teachable lessons for private property owners and institutional and other community partners.

This initiative might build from the guide used by the parks and rec department.

 

4. Property improvement hub

Develop a public-facing portal to inform, educate, and inspire property owners/managers, especially those for commercial properties of the type that would be subject to bicycle parking minimum standards for new development in 9-9-6(e), towards developing best-practice bicycle parking facilities voluntarily. Potential elements:

  1. Give advice and inspiration for how to consider repurposing car parking with bicycle parking now that minimum motor vehicle parking standards are no longer in effect.

  2. Focus on encouraging private property owners to lead on their own, showing that purchasing and installing best-practice racks can be very affordable and create a lot of value for patrons and the property.

  3. Provide practical guidance to “DIY” and/or lists of contractors.

This initiative could work as a multimedia program that combines an informational portal, education campaign, incentives, recognition, and more as resources allow. It could also build off of the foundational materials in initiative #1, “Beacon for best practice facilities.”

5. Alignment with community institutions

Develop partnerships with institutions that own and manage large amounts of land land and/or are a key part of the transportation/housing landscape in our community such as CU, RTD, and BVCP towards the aim of problem-solving for a stronger network of community-wide short- and long-term bicycle parking together. Potential elements:

  1. Create a structured process of “showing and telling” in order to create new collaborative approaches.

  2. Develop one or more collaborative task forces or committees to provide support.

 This element is focused on developing relationships for shared action.

6. Investment blueprints

Develop “pre-plans” for investment concepts so that we can be ready to directly lead or support programs to deploy strategic infrastructure when the time and resources are right. Potential elements:

  1. Deploy bike racks directly in large scale around the community as a public works project (e.g., 500 racks at $100 each on a flatbed) should grants or other funding become available

  2. Make grants for community organizations or members to install equipment on their own

  3. Develop a call for proposals for service/technology providers stating the terms for how to serve Boulder’s needS 

  4. Develop a backstop bike rack installation service that community members can call on to have racks and/or other bicycle parking infrastructure installed by the city.

This initiative could consider the possibility of using the city’s purchasing power to buy large numbers of racks at scale and pass on bulk discounts to the community.

7. Complete bicycle security change model

Develop an evidence-based, analytical change model to demonstrate how bicycle parking infrastructure fits into a wider approach of improving bicycle security and reducing thefts. Consider the pillars of

  1. Parking infrastructure: A community-wide network of best-practice bicycle parking facilities, with attention to both short-term parking (racks) and long-term parking (rooms, sheds, lockers, etc)

  2. Deterrence: Making bike theft less rewarding through problem-solving policing as well as changes to ordinances and collaboration with the judicial system,

  3. Registration and recovery: Increased participation in registration of bikes with Bike Index (perhaps through greater automation at the point-of-sale) and leveraging that system to recover and return stolen bikes

  4. Parking behavior: Bicyclists owning and effectively using high-quality locks and storage systems.

Using these or other pillars such as these, develop an approach to measuring and reporting progress towards the ultimate goal of reducing bicycle thefts and increasing bicycle use

8. Some additional ideas

  1. Convert on-street car parking to bike corrals, especially to improve lines of sight at street crossings

  2. Create more triggers to require compliance with standards for short and long term bicycle parking, such as lighter renovations and new licenses and permits 

  3. Ensure the types of bicycle parking at bus stops (I.e., short and long term facilities) match actual trip use while asserting greater control over bus stop location and amenities

  4. Conduct a needs assessment and develop a plan for bicycle parking for Sundance

  5. Ensure bicycle racks near streets and parking lots stay clear of snow plowing 

  6. Require unbundling of car parking from rent with separate charges