Although bike rack locations must generally meet all the location criteria, exceptions can be made, and the Public Works Department may approve locations as exempt from one or more criteria on a case-by-case basis. The standard criteria are:
- The property where the bike rack is to be located must be within the borders of the City of Sheboygan.
- Bike racks must be installed on public right-of-way or public property.
- Locations should be prominent, easily accessible, and in reasonably secure areas.
- Racks to be installed shall be inverted U-racks, unless otherwise deemed appropriate
- A 5’ pedestrian walkway on public right of way between the bike envelope, the expected area occupied by the rack and parked bicycles when full, and any obstructions must be maintained at all times.
Rack locations must maintain the following clearances from the bike envelope:
- From the face of curb – 2’
- From sign posts, light or traffic poles – 2'
- From permanent street furniture that requires access, including benches, trash bins, and mailboxes – 5’
- From above ground utilities, such as fire hydrants and traffic signal cabinets – 5’
- From underground utility access points, such as utility vaults and manholes – 5’
Locations are selected based on likely demand of a location, proximity to existing bike racks, and the location’s conformance to the guidelines. As each location is unique, each request will be evaluated by City staff on a case-by-case basis before being approved for a bike rack. Businesses requesting racks must meet with City staff to demonstrate the lack of feasible space on private property for a bike rack.
In order to install racks efficiently, installations will be prioritized based on the likely demand of bike parking at each location and by geography, rather than in the exact order they are requested. Rack installation times can vary depending on the Department’s workload and funds available for the project each year.
Locations may be approved and placed on a waiting list for installation.
Width and length/dept requirements:
Overall width needed is 2 feet per bicycle, same as for any well-designed rack. In the example below, for 4 bikes the minimum width needed is 96”, the same as for a rack with 4 individual spaces. There is no space savings with this rack design since you still need room to get bikes in and out without handlebar interference. The space length, or depth, when using inverted-U type racks will be longer than for other types of racks due to the variety of ways people may use these racks. Instead of 6 ft. you will need between 90” and 108” (7.5 - 9 ft.).
The diagram below explains both the width and length/depth requirements:
