Expanding Bicycle Access to Transit: Providing Increased Secure Bicycle Parking at Light Rail Stations in the Seattle Area

Abstract

Sound Transit’s Link light rail system provides high-capacity transit service to the Seattle area. Supporting bicycle use to reach Link can increase access to this important regional transit system. Providing safe and secure parking for bicycles at transit stations is an effective method for supporting bicycle access to the transit system, but half of the existing Link light rail stations do not have secure bike parking facilities. This thesis examines how to provide increased secure bike parking at Link light rail stations in three parts. The first is an examination of the practices used at several other transit agencies for providing bike parking. Second, four methods found in the literature are used to analyze the level of demand for bike access to the existing Link stations. The highest level of demand, and thus the greatest need for secure bike parking, is found at the University of Washington and International District/Chinatown Link stations, which currently have no secure bike parking. Finally, preliminary designs for secure bike parking facilities at these two stations are presented along with general recommendations for improvements to Sound Transit’s methods of planning for secure bicycle parking.