Bike Parking Advocacy Guide

Is there bike parking at the grocery store, coffee shop, and other businesses you frequent? Or are you left parking awkwardly to a sign or railing?  You can do something about it!

Bike parking is an inexpensive way businesses can be more accessible to their customers. Often businesses just haven’t thought about it or don’t realize their customers bike and need bike parking. As a customer, the request for bike parking comes best from you.

Take Action (yes, you!)

1. Remember “the customer is always right” and you’re a customer.
2. Ask for a manager.
   1. Tell them that you frequent their business and any other positives that you have to say.
   2. Tell them that you’d like them to install bike parking.
   3. Describe how the lack of bike parking or badly placed (ex: if you have to walk a long way between bike parking and the store) impacts your access to their business (ex: in some cases, you might not even bike to their business because of the lack of bike parking).
   4. Direct them to www.hbl.org/bikeparking for more information on bike racks and siting.
3. If manager isn’t available, ask for an email contact.
   1. Email them with the same details as above – your a customer, request for bike parking, how the lack on parking impacts your access to their business, and direct them to www.hbl.org/bikeparking for guidance.
4. Friendly, but persistently follow-up.
5. Thank them when the bike parking gets installed.

Development Moving Forward

In October 2017, Ordinance 17-55 was brought into law in the City and County of Honolulu. More than two years in the making, the ordinance is a major breakthrough for bike parking on Oahu. It requires that all new commercial, business, employment, and apartment developments provide quality bike parking. The ordinance follows best practices requiring bike parking to be located near building entrances and requires both short-term (ex: publicly accessible bike rack) and long-term secured (ex: bike shelter) bike parking be provided. This is a giant step and will cover new developments moving forward, but in terms of all the bike parking needs for existing buildings YOUR ACTION IS CRUCIAL. 

Highlighted Advocate’s Success Story

When John would bike to the Starbucks at the Kokohead Marina he hated not having a bike rack to lock his bike so he could enjoy his coffee with peace of mind that his bike would be there when he got back. So he took the initiative to ask for a manager and requested a bike rack. He made the case that he and other people on bikes would be more likely to stop and stick around if the business provided bike parking. He then persistently followed-up. And when he arrived one beautiful day, there was the bike rack! And it was already being used!

Yes, the bike rack type could be better. But it’s definitely better than no bike rack. And the location, very close to the entrance and in a high visibility area, is perfect.  John followed up with a big Thank You.

John provided this picture to HBL and gave us his blessing to use this success story to inspire others to take action and request bike parking at the businesses they frequent.