Five Mistakes Cities Make with Bike Parking — And How to Fix Them

If you haven’t noticed, bikes are having a bit of a renaissance. With climate change concerns, growing urban populations, and a general craving for more active lifestyles, bicycles are more popular than ever. 

But while the two-wheeled revolution is pedaling ahead full-speed, many cities are stuck in the slow lane when it comes to one crucial piece of infrastructure: bike parking.

That’s right. You can have all the painted bike lanes and trendy rental programs in the world, but if cyclists don’t have a safe, accessible place to leave their bikes, you’re missing the mark. 

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at common mistakes cities make with bike parking, and more importantly, how to fix them. Spoiler alert: if you’re not installing a bike repair station, you’re already behind.

1. Treating Bike Parking Like an Afterthought

The Problem

All too often, bike racks are slapped onto sidewalks as an afterthought. You’ve seen them: those lonely horizontal racks stuck behind a dumpster. There’s no shade, no lighting, and no security.

We know that cyclists deserve better. When cities treat bike parking as a checkbox rather than a core part of transportation planning, they end up creating spaces that are inconvenient, unsafe, and uninviting.

The Fix

Design bike parking as intentionally as you would car parking. That means:

• Placing racks near building entrances, transit stations, and key destinations.

• Providing shelter from the elements, so bike rooms! Learn more about bike rooms in multi-use spaces here

• Ensuring visibility and lighting for safety.

• Using high-quality racks, such as our horizontal and vertical racks, that allow the frame and wheel to be locked securely.

Stack Rack

2. Ignoring Long-Term Bike Storage Needs

The Problem

Not all cyclists are zipping around for a quick coffee or grocery run. We know that many are commuting to work, going to school, or even taking long-distance trips. Yet, most bike parking is geared toward short-term use. Without secure, weather-protected storage, bikes are vulnerable to theft and damage, discouraging regular ridership.

The Fix

Offer a mix of short- and long-term parking solutions. Long-term options should be:

• Covered and preferably indoors–see the video below of a 400-bike bike room we worked on designing for Tour Banque National in Montreal!

• Access-controlled (think keycards or digital codes).

• Equipped with CCTV cameras for added security.

Transit hubs, apartment complexes, and office buildings are perfect places to introduce secure bike lockers or enclosed bike rooms. Bonus points if you include a bike repair station in these facilities, so riders can tighten a loose bolt or patch a tire before heading out.

3. Forgetting That Bikes Come in All Shapes and Sizes

The Problem

Today’s bikes are wonderfully diverse. E-bikes are surging in popularity, often with bulky frames or added components. But traditional racks are designed for your basic two-wheeler, and they don’t accommodate these variations well.

The Fix

Build inclusive bike parking. This means:

• Providing racks with wider spacing.

• Providing designated racks which function both as a parking spot and charger for e-bikes, such as our post&ring stand

• Offering stack racks with assist, to make the weight of e-bikes easier to mount.

• Adding charging ports for e-bikes where possible

4. Not Thinking Like a Cyclist

The Problem

If you want to create great bike parking, maybe try talking to cyclists. Too often, decisions about where to place racks or how to design bike-friendly areas are made by people who haven’t been on a bike since middle school.

The result? Parking that’s too far from destinations, on uneven pavement, or placed in a way that forces you to choose between locking your frame or your wheel; not both.

The Fix

Engage the cycling community. Host forums, surveys, or even ride-alongs with local cyclists to learn what they need. Collaborate with bike advocacy groups who already know the pain points.

Then use that feedback to inform better decisions, like installing racks at a grocery store’s main entrance instead of out back near the dumpsters. Outside of a coffee shop, at a university campus, near public transit hubs: these are gold mines of potential for parking, repairs with a repair station, and good vibes.

5. Skipping the Support Systems

The Problem

Bike parking doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a larger ecosystem of cycling infrastructure that includes lanes, signage, and maintenance. If your city is doing great with protected bike lanes but offers zero support for breakdowns, you’re only doing half the job.

Cyclists need to trust that they can get where they’re going—and get back—without their trip being derailed by a simple mechanical issue.

The Fix

Every major bike parking hub should be supported by:

• Wayfinding signage that clearly points to bike parking.

• A bikehangar, such as Trips by Halt, to protect bikes from rain and sun, or ensuring all their infrastructure is weatherproof, such as Halt’s bike repair stations

• A bike repair station with a pump, hex keys, tire levers, and screwdrivers.

This kind of support transforms a parking space into a mini cycling hub: a place that welcomes riders and keeps them rolling.

Think of it as creating a "home base" for your bike network. When cyclists know that they can park, fix, and plan their next move all in one spot, they’re far more likely to keep riding.

Park It Like You Mean It

We always emphasize to our clients that bike parking isn't just a utility; rather, it's a message. When cities provide thoughtful, secure, and accessible bike parking (complete with a bike repair station or two), they’re saying: “Hey, cyclists. We see you. We value you. We want you here.”

And guess what? Cyclists will respond in kind. They’ll ride more, drive less, and contribute to healthier, more vibrant communities.

So let’s stop treating bike parking like an afterthought and start designing it as a core part of the transportation future. Add some shade, think about different types of bikes, get input from real cyclists; and for the love of pedals, install a bike repair station. Better bike parking isn’t rocket science. It’s just good planning. And a little bit of air in your tires.