NEW YORK—City Council is expected to pass the Bike Access Bill on Wednesday. The bill requires that bikes be permitted in office buildings in New York City.
The current law gives building owners the authority to allow bikes or not.
Brooklyn Council Member David Yassky introduced the bill. “We are taking the biggest step yet toward making it possible for people to bike to work,” he said.
“As it stands now, you have to exert super-human powers to find a place to park your bike without it getting stolen,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives. He added that with the increased convenience, biking will be a part of everyday life in New York.
The bill does not require building owners to provide storage space for bikes. Individual offices and employees are responsible for creating bike storage. Tenants and owners also have to resolve logistics of transporting bikes in passenger and freight elevators.
Dale Lord the manager of Pedal Pushers, an upper Manhattan bike shop, said there are “all sorts of ways to deal with the space problem.” He said there are different types of racks available, each building has its own situation, some adjustment will be necessary in office buildings, but adds that he doesn’t think it will be difficult.
In Tokyo, bike storage problems have been solved using automated underground parking garages. Hundreds of bikes are stored in underground towers, customers swipe their card at a kiosk and the bikes are mechanically deposited or retrieved from an elevator by a pair of mechanized arms. The process only takes a few minutes, no longer than it takes to lock a bike.
If signed the bill will take effect in November. People who wish to bring their bikes to work may mail a written request to the building manager to complete a bicycle access plan, with an official form provided by the Department of Transportation (DOT), and file a copy with DOT.
To view the complete bill visit: http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Int%200871-2008.htm
The current law gives building owners the authority to allow bikes or not.
Brooklyn Council Member David Yassky introduced the bill. “We are taking the biggest step yet toward making it possible for people to bike to work,” he said.
“As it stands now, you have to exert super-human powers to find a place to park your bike without it getting stolen,” said Paul Steely White, executive director of the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives. He added that with the increased convenience, biking will be a part of everyday life in New York.
The bill does not require building owners to provide storage space for bikes. Individual offices and employees are responsible for creating bike storage. Tenants and owners also have to resolve logistics of transporting bikes in passenger and freight elevators.
Dale Lord the manager of Pedal Pushers, an upper Manhattan bike shop, said there are “all sorts of ways to deal with the space problem.” He said there are different types of racks available, each building has its own situation, some adjustment will be necessary in office buildings, but adds that he doesn’t think it will be difficult.
In Tokyo, bike storage problems have been solved using automated underground parking garages. Hundreds of bikes are stored in underground towers, customers swipe their card at a kiosk and the bikes are mechanically deposited or retrieved from an elevator by a pair of mechanized arms. The process only takes a few minutes, no longer than it takes to lock a bike.
If signed the bill will take effect in November. People who wish to bring their bikes to work may mail a written request to the building manager to complete a bicycle access plan, with an official form provided by the Department of Transportation (DOT), and file a copy with DOT.
To view the complete bill visit: http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Int%200871-2008.htm