Abstract Manager

TransLink is a leader in bicycle and transit integration in North America, with a range of bicycle parking options available at their transit facilities across the region. As part of TransLink’s multi-modal mandate, they are responsible for providing cycling options and ensuring that cycling is integrated to the greater transportation network in Metro Vancouver. As bringing bicycles on transit is not a scalable option, providing convenient and secure bicycle parking at transit facilities supports more multi-modal trips creating a resilient transportation network.

Since the inception of the bicycle parking program, the decisions and approach surrounding implementing new bicycle parking has been made on an ad-hoc, case-by-case basis. This has resulted in gaps across the system and questions as to where there is network need in the system.

TransLink’s Bicycle Parking Guide provides a new streamlined decision-making process to fully capitalize on ongoing and future opportunities at existing and future transit facilities. The presentation will outline a five-step process that was created to identify the right type, mix, and supply of bicycle parking across all transit facilities in the region:

Step 1: Determine Transit Facility Typology

Step 2: Determine Bicycle Parking Types

Step 3: Determine Bicycle Parking Supply

Step 4: Review Bicycle Parking System Needs Analysis

Step 5: Conduct Site-Specific Assessment

The first three steps of the process identify the best-case scenario bicycle parking types and supply based on a series of transit facility typologies that are built on transit mode, ridership activity, multi-modal connectivity, and regional significance. Step 4 starts to take a deeper dive by reviewing how system-wide (existing bicycle parking inventory, cycling potential, equity, existing active transportation networks) and transit facility-specific indicators influence bicycle parking needs at any given transit facility. Step 5 considers site-specific constraints and opportunities such as space availability, capital costs, operations and maintenance, and leveraging potential partnerships to determine a mix of bicycle parking that suits the transit facility's context.

Overall, bicycle parking is more of an art, rather than a science, requiring flexibility and creativity in the process to determine an appropriate mix to best suit a transit facility's unique context. This presentation will provide insights that can help municipalities use a systems-approach as a part of their decision-making process for bicycle parking investments.