Planning Commission Approves Bike Parking Ordinance

Although many bicycle commuters are frustrated by the lack of secure bike parking, there is hope that future buildings built in Philadelphia will better accomodate bicycles.

Phildelphia is considering a new zoning code provision that will require new "uses" to install bicycle parking as part of obtaining a building permit. Philadelphia's proposed bicycle parking zoning code amendment was approved unaminously by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission on Tuesday, April 21st. It will be heard by City Council's Rules Committee on May 13th at 10 am. If you want to testify at the hearing, please send an email to Jason.lewis@phila.gov with your name, title and affiliation.

The bill was introduced in March 2009 by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Councilman Jim Kenny and Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. Read more about the bill in the Bicycle Coalition's factsheet . The legislation was developed by the Nutter Administration and the Bicycle Coalition through the Pedestrian/Bicycle Plan Steering Committee. Other cities who have this kind of zoning are Washington DC, Chicago, Illinois and Portland Oregon. Yesterday, New York City enacted similar legislation.

This legislation was also prompted by a Bicycle Coalition report issued in May 2008 on Philadelhia's bike parking shortage called "Bicycle Parking: the Key to a Green Philadelphia".