Albany council advances overhaul of bicycle-parking rules to encourage e-bikes, cargo bikes

Albany City Council at its Sept. 2 meeting introduced and waived first reading of an ordinance that would expand and update the city's bicycle-parking rules to reflect growing e-bike and cargo-bike use and to support the city's climate goals.

The ordinance amendment, presented by Planning Manager Leslie Mendez, would apply new long-term and short-term bicycle-parking requirements to new commercial, public, quasi-public, industrial, mixed-use and multifamily developments, and to larger temporary events. The council's action at the meeting set an amended package of technical changes and moved some operational standards into administrative regulations for staff to adjust later.

Mendez said the revisions respond to changing mobility trends: "The goals of these amendments are to support climate and sustainability by encouraging bicycling, to accommodate new mobility trends such as cargo and e-bicycles, to integrate bicycle parking into public and private spaces, and to set clear practical standards to lessen the burden on development." She noted the changes must meet a state deadline tied to AB 306 and the state building code (CalGreen) for residential requirements.

Key proposed changes adopted for first reading include: - For…