Bicycle Parking Standards in Long Beach, CA

Bicycle parking in Long Beach is categorized by the duration of use and the type of facility provided. The city mandates specific counts for large developments and allows for the substitution of required automobile parking with bicycle parking under certain conditions.

Types of Bicycle Parking

The city distinguishes between two primary types of bicycle parking based on the intended user and storage duration:

• Short-Term Bicycle Parking: Intended for visitors and customers staying for up to 2 hours. These are typically publicly accessible bike racks or bike corrals [§ 21.15.365].
• Long-Term Bicycle Parking: Intended for employees, residents, and transit users staying for more than 2 hours. These must be located in secure, sheltered, weather-protected, and controlled-access areas, such as bike lockers, bicycle rooms, or secure garages [§ 21.15.365].

A "bicycle parking space" must include a stationary object (rack, locker, or secure area) to which a bicycle can be locked [§ 21.15.365].

Minimum Required Spaces for Nonresidential Development

For nonresidential projects, the number of required bicycle parking spaces is determined by the gross square footage (GFA) of the development:

• Projects of 50,000 sq. ft. or more: Must provide at least four (4) bicycle parking spaces for the first 50,000 square feet.
• Additional Square Footage: One (1) additional bicycle space must be provided for every additional 50,000 square feet of development.
• Rounding: Calculations resulting in a fraction of 0.5 or higher must be rounded up to the nearest whole number [§ 21.64.030.B.2.c].

Substitution of Automobile Parking

The Zoning Administrator may approve an Administrative Use Permit (AUP) to reduce the minimum number of required vehicular parking spaces by substituting them with bicycle parking:

• Retail, Restaurants, and Service Uses: One short-term on-site bicycle parking space may be substituted for one auto parking space, up to a maximum of 20% of the required auto parking spaces [§ 21.41.223.D.1.a.i].
• Professional Office and Industrial Uses: One long-term on-site bicycle parking space may be substituted for one auto parking space, up to a maximum of 30% of the required auto parking spaces [§ 21.41.223.D.1.a.ii].

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Requirements

Developments must meet specific TDM standards based on their size to encourage bicycle use:

Projects Under 25,000 sq. ft.

If seeking a parking reduction, these projects must provide bicycle route and facility information, including regional/local maps and safety information [§ 21.41.223.D.1.b].

Projects 25,000 sq. ft. to 49,999 sq. ft.

• Information Display: Must provide a bulletin board or kiosk in an employee area displaying bicycle route maps and facility information [§ 21.64.030.B.1.a.iv].
• Alternative Mobility: Must provide an off-site parking or drop-off area for e-bikes or bike-share services within 300 feet of the building entrance [§ 21.41.223.D.2.c].

Projects 100,000 sq. ft. or Greater

In addition to the requirements above, these developments must provide safe and convenient access from the external circulation system (streets/sidewalks) directly to the on-site bicycle parking facilities [§ 21.64.030.B.3.d].

Maintenance and Exemptions

• Maintenance: All bicycle parking facilities must be maintained in a state of good repair and kept clear of obstructions [§ 21.64.030.A.2, § 21.41.150].
• Exemptions: While certain areas of the city are exempt from vehicular parking minimums, these exemptions do not automatically remove requirements for bicycle parking or other TDM measures [§ 21.41.175.A, H].