In late March 2014, FABB celebrated a small but meaningful victory—Fairfax County Public Schools installed new visitor bike parking at its headquarters, a change FABB had requested a year earlier. The installation followed a meeting between FCPS staff, FABB members, and the Fairfax County Bicycle Coordinator to discuss proper bike rack placement and specifications.
Since its founding, FABB has been a tireless advocate for better bike parking throughout Fairfax County. Over the years, we’ve learned a great deal about what makes a bike rack truly useful—correct rack selection, thoughtful placement, and secure installation. This experience has made FABB a go-to resource for both public agencies and private developers seeking guidance on effective bicycle parking. We also played a key role in helping the county develop its original bicycle parking guidelines.
Our advocacy continued with Fairfax County’s 2022–2023 “Parking Reimagined” zoning initiative. At virtual open houses, county planning staff proposed new bicycle parking requirements based on a percentage of vehicle parking, depending on land use intensity. While we were pleased to see bike parking formally included in the zoning ordinance, we urged the county to aim higher. We saw this as a chance to apply the concept of “induced demand”—more bike parking would help generate more biking.
Thanks in part to our efforts, the updated Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance 6102 now sets bicycle parking minimums ranging from 5% to 15% of required vehicle spaces. It also includes improved standards for rack design, long- and short-term parking, and location guidance.
In March 2024, FABB members once again raised their voices at an FCDOT virtual meeting on bike parking guidelines. We emphasized a reality cyclists know well: a lack of safe, convenient bike parking—at schools, workplaces, or shops—deters many from biking altogether.
FCDOT responded. In June 2024, the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan released updated Bicycle Parking Guidelines. This new guidance outlines optimal ratios of short- and long-term parking, acceptable rack and facility designs, placement best practices, and optional amenities to improve comfort and usability. These guidelines align with the new zoning ordinance and reflect current best practices.
FCDOT now publicly acknowledges that a lack of secure bike parking is a major barrier to biking as a healthy, affordable, and sustainable way to get around. Adequate bicycle parking should be the norm—at homes, schools, offices, transit stops, and wherever cars are parked.
FABB’s sustained advocacy over the past decade helped make that recognition possible. But the work isn’t done. Better bike parking is a key part of creating a bike-friendly Fairfax County—and we need your help to keep pushing forward.
Want to get involved? Contact us at [email protected] and help us shape a future where safe, secure bike parking is available to every rider, everywhere.
