CA36 - Cycle-Smart Design
Why architects are the key to unlocking safe and thriving cycling networks
NEWSWORTHY
🏛️ The Biden-Harris Administration announces $2billion for cleaner construction pilot projects
THE POLL
THE TOPIC
Imagine this - you show up at the grocery store and there are zero parking stalls. I mean zero. Then you head over to Starbucks and the same. Nothing. There would be riots in the streets. Well, this is what it’s like to cycle without the proper infrastructure. This extends beyond just parking stalls as places like that are car-centric lack many of the facilities that are required to safely cycle in an urban or suburban environment.
The key element of a good transportation network is the interconnected parts working together to form a cohesive system. Each part isn’t isolated from the other parts. We take this for granted with our vehicles because that system has been built out over the last century, but it didn’t have to be this way.
Here is an easy way to think about it. When you drive your car from point A to point B there are a series of isolated items along the way that support that action. You have a driveway or a garage to park in, then you drive on roads designed for your vehicle, at each intersection of two roads there are lights controlling everyone’s movements, and when you get to your destination there is a parking spot waiting for you, and if you need to fuel-up, there are stations splattered all over. Driving is easy because we’ve developed the system.
The cycling system sucks (yes there are places where it doesn’t) but here in North America, even the best cities lack really great and cohesive systems. A big part of the problem is simply time - we’ve been designing for bikes for decades, we’ve been designing for cars for centuries.
The great thing is ARCHITECTS CAN HELP!! We actually control and design a large part of a cycling network. Next time you design a site plan - think about where the bikes enter, move around, and park. Cycling isn’t like driving a car, it’s active and it’s exposing - different facilities are needed and we can be part of the solution. As I mentioned earlier, it’s a system. We need municipalities and engineers to improve the road infrastructure, we need people to change their habits to start cycling, and we need ARCHITECTS to provide the facilities to park and end your trip.
THE GRAPHIC
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Designing for cyclists matters for three primary reasons:
Improve bike parking and locking facilities
End-of-trip facilities that encourage cycling
Advocate for bike infrastructure
Let’s dig a little deeper:
1 - Improve bike parking and locking facilities
Bike locking facilities are key at every single building type. In many cases, both interior and exterior facilities are essential to provide longer-term parking for homeowners or employees and temporary parking for visitors. Visitor parking needs to be near the entrance and provide enough room for large bikes. Three common mistakes I see are: 1 - poorly designed bike posts like below, 2 - Posts too close to a wall to allow bikes to park, 3 - locks located miles from the entrance in a secluded area. (Hint - the more public the place the less likely for theft).
2 - End of trip facilities that encourage cycling
End-of-trip facilities allow people who cycle to change, wash-up, and get ready after cycling. These aren’t required at every building type, but are critical for offices. This allows employees to have a place to prep for work after a sweaty cycling ride. Here is a good resource to help you plan out a good facility in your next design
3 - Advocate for bike infrastructure
Architects need to be leaders in our community and one of the items we need to advocate for is cycling. This means showing up at events, writing to your local MP’s, and promoting cycling. Architects used to be perceived as leaders and innovators - I don’t get that perception anymore. We need to both reclaim our position as leaders and use that influence to improve our cities and communities. Who is with me!?
1 PERSON TO FOLLOW
Elisabeth is the founder of Carbon Wise! After working in the Energy Efficiency field for years, Elisabeth realized that there was a missing piece to how we build our homes: Embodied Carbon. The vision of Carbon Wise is: To achieve net-zero emissions in the housing sector. Real net-zero emissions.
1 RESOURCE TO ACT ON
British Columbia has a great Active Transportation Guide (link) that clearly illustrates both cycling lane design and end-of-trip facilities including what locking poles to use, how to space them, and where to put them. A great resource for any architect.