Motorbike Parking Design Criteria

With the increased sales of scooters and motorcycles (referred to here for the remainder of this entry as “motorbikes“) is coming the need for dedicated motorbike parking. Providing dedicated motorbike parking spaces encourages patrons or employees to ride to your establishment. The potential benefits of this are:
· Reduced traffic
· More available parking area
· Better use of resources, both fuel and space
With this is mind, following are some guidelines for providing motorbike parking.

Space Dimensions

Scooters:
Width: 3.5 -4’
Length: 8-9’

Motorcycles:
Width: 4.5 -5’
Length: 8-9’

Slope and Surface

A motorbike parks on a stand that gives it 3 points of contact with the ground within a long, narrow envelope. This can make them prone to tipping. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the slope and surface.

Slope:

• Slope should be as close to flat as can be attained while still providing adequate drainage. Motorbikes’ brakes are not engaged while parked. The only resistance to the rolling of a scooter or motorcycle in neutral is the stand.


• Slope should be front to rear, lengthwise through the spaces. A side slope will affect the lean angle of a bike on a kickstand, making it less stable.


• Most motorbikes are powered with forward gears only. Only the giant touring bikes, like Honda Goldwings, have a reverse gear. If reversing a bike out of a parking spot is necessary, the slope should be in that direction. Trying to walk a 800lb. bike backward up even a 2% slope is a feat beyond all but the burliest of bikers. If sloping away from the exit is the only option, bikes should be required to back into spaces so they can pull out forward under power.

Surface:

• A kickstand supports a lot of weight in small area. A kickstand can sink into heated asphalt, causing bikes to fall and pavement to become riddled with dents and holes. For these reasons, macadam makes a poor surface for motorbike parking. Gravel is similarly problematic for kickstands, and is easily sprayed into other vehicles by spinning tires. Consider concrete, brick, concrete or stone pavers, or a densely packed fine stone dust.

Location

• Out of the path of other vehicles that could bump them when backing up.


• Keep clear of overhanging trees to prevent bird droppings or dripping sap.


• Avoid nearby gratings into which keys can be dropped.


• All spaces should be grouped together as a cohesive area, as opposed to sprinkled individually throughout the lot. Designers should be discouraged from utilizing “left over” space to fulfill motorbike parking needs.


• Provide architectural cover if possible.

Security

Because 2-3 people can easily and quickly lift a motorbike into a van or truck (I hear that a Honda Metropolitan fits inside a Toyota Prius!), theft is a concern. Position motorbike parking within the overall parking design as you would position easily-shoplifted product inside a store. The location of motorbike parking should have the following security features:

• Adequate lighting


• In a high traffic area to assure plenty of visibility


• Within view of security cameras


• Anchors to which a cable lock can be secured

Signage

• Clearly directing riders to parking from arriving routes


• Clearly indicating the designated area

A disincentive to providing adequate motorbike parking is that zoning ordinances may not count spaces under 180 sq. ft. toward satisfying parking requirements. This is an unfortunate and antiquated reality. An equivalency factor should be written into modern ordinances along the lines of 2-4 motorbike spaces to 1 automobile space.

The part of the equation I cannot answer is what percentage of parking should be converted to motorbike parking. There are formulas for other countries, but America is just beginning its conversion to 2 wheels. Who knows where the ratio will eventually balance out? For now, 1 space for every 20-30 automobile spaces feels right to me.

The inability to provide for 100% of these considerations should not prevent landlords, developers or designers from trying to provide some form of motorbike parking.

For some innovative ideas for providing motorbike parking, click here.