Planning commission advances bike-parking law

by Diana Nelson Jones

The City Planning Commission approved bicycle-parking legislation today, which should make it more attractive to leave your bike unattended for eight hours.

It's far from inclusive, since those of us who work far from any new developmen would still have to lug the wheels up the stairs or elevator and park them by our desks. But it's a step that might -- who knows? -- lead to voluntary bike racks wherever enough bike riders want to be.

The legislation, which still has to make its way through City Council, would require that developers of new commercial spaces larger than 6,000-square feet provide one space and that developers of more than 12 units of housing provide four.

Read more about it in tomorrow's print version of the Post-Gazette, unless it gets held for space, in which case I will fill in the details.

This is a big victory for bicycle commuters. But bear in mind what commissioner Paul Dick said -- a good point: that a lot of you disregard the rules of the road, sailing through intersections that require cars behind you to stop, dashing in and around cars and other irksome transgressions that do nothing to promote good public relations.

And for those of you riding on sidewalks, get into traffic and be counted.