Lighting and Bike Racks at Buildings
Question
Hector asked: What are the rules on placement and lighting of bike racks in front of buildings in the state of FL?
Answer
Although I have heard of regulations requiring bike racks for certain businesses, I am not aware of any in Florida. I don’t know of any related to lighting of bike racks.
The only other requirements I know of relate to restrictions on placement of obstructions on sidewalks or other public right of way.
s. 316.2045 – Obstruction of Public Streets, Highways, and Roads
(1) It is unlawful for any person or persons willfully to obstruct the free, convenient, and normal use of any public street, highway, or road by impeding, hindering, stifling, retarding, or restraining traffic or passage thereon, …. or by endangering the safe movement of vehicles or pedestrians traveling thereon.
A bike rack can also not be placed on a sidewalk since parking a vehicle there is unlawful
s. 316.1945 – Stopping, Standing, or Parking Prohibited in Specified Places
(1) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device, no person shall:
(a) Stop, stand, or park a vehicle:
2. On a sidewalk.
You should check your local ordinances for other information about your community. Google “muni-codes” for your community.
Bicycle parking requirements for new development (businesses, schools, shopping centers, parks, apartment complexes, etc.) are adopted by municipalities (mostly), which include them in the section on parking requirements of their land development regulations (“zoning code”) in the municipal code of ordinances. Guidelines, if any, on the design and placement of bike racks may be included in this section, or the municipality may simply stipulate that design and placement of bicycle racks is to be in accordance with some guideline document available elsewhere.
Once the owner of a new building receives a certificate of occupancy from the local building department, it can open for business. If bike parking seems unsatisfactory at an existing building, a user or would-be user could explain the problem and make a suggestion to the building owner/manager, but there are no rules that might oblige the owner to make changes at this point.