LT Credit: Bicycle Facilities
Bicycles need two things: a place to go—and a place to stay.
What is the Intent of this Credit?
The goal is to:
👉 promote bicycling and transportation efficiency
👉 reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
👉 improve public health through physical activity
🎯 Big Picture
This credit is about:
👉 Access to bike routes + Proper bike storage + User support (showers)
🧩 Two Main Components
- Bicycle Network (Access Requirement)
Requirement
👉 The project must have:
- a functional entry OR bicycle storage location
within:
👉 200 yards (180 m)
of a bicycle network
❓ What is a Bicycle Network?
Includes:
- bike lanes
- bike paths
- trails
- low-speed roads
📍 What must the network connect to?
At least ONE of the following:
✅ Option A: Diverse Uses
- At least 10 diverse uses
- within 3 miles (4800 m) biking distance
✅ Option B: School or Employment Center
👉 Applies if:
- project is ≥50% residential
✅ Option C: Transit
- BRT
- rail stations
- commuter rail
- ferry
🎯 Critical Numbers (MUST MEMORIZE)
- 200 yards → connection distance
- 3 miles → biking reach
- 10 diverse uses
⚠️ Planned Bike Network (Exam Trap)
👉 Can count ONLY if:
- fully funded
completed within 1 year of certificate of occupancy
🚲 2. Bicycle Storage & Shower Facilities
Three Cases
🏢 Case 1: Commercial / Institutional Projects
📦 Short-Term Storage (Visitors)
- 2.5% of peak visitors
- minimum 4 spaces
🏠 Long-Term Storage (Occupants)
- 5% of regular occupants
- minimum 4 spaces
🚿 Showers
- 1 shower for first 100 occupants
- +1 shower for every 150 additional occupants
🏠 Case 2: Residential Projects
📦 Short-Term Storage
- 2.5% of peak visitors
- minimum 4 spaces
🏠 Long-Term Storage
- 30% of occupants
- OR ≥1 per dwelling unit
🏙️ Case 3: Mixed-Use Projects
👉 Must meet:
- Case 1 (non-residential portion)
- Case 2 (residential portion)
📍 Location Requirements (ALL PROJECTS)
🚲 Short-Term Storage
👉 within:
- 100 feet (30 m)
of main entrance
🚲 Long-Term Storage
👉 within:
- 100 feet (30 m)
of functional entry
⚠️ Important Rules (Exam Traps)
❌ No Double Counting
👉 Bicycle storage:
- cannot be shared with non-project users
- must be dedicated to project occupants
❌ Short-term ≠ Long-term
- short-term → visitors
- long-term → regular occupants
👉 Cannot substitute one for the other
🧠 Where People Get Confused
❌ Misconception 1:
“Any bike path nearby qualifies”
👉 No
👉 Must connect to:
- 10 uses OR
- transit OR
- school/employment
❌ Misconception 2:
“Distance is from site boundary”
👉 No
👉 Must be from:
- functional entry OR storage location
❌ Misconception 3:
“Storage is enough”
👉 No
👉 Must also meet:
- network requirement
❌ Misconception 4:
“Planned bike lanes always count”
👉 Only if:
- fully funded
- completed within 1 year
Official FAQs
What are the two main components of the Bicycle Facilities credit?
2. Bicycle storage and shower facilities
What are the key distances in this credit?
• 3 miles → to destinations
• 100 feet → storage location
A project has bike storage but no nearby bicycle network. Does it qualify?
👉 Both requirements must be met:
• network access
• storage facilities
A project has access to 8 diverse uses within 3 miles. Does it meet the requirement?
👉 Minimum is 10 diverse uses. Projects are required to Design or locate the project such that a functional entry or bicycle storage is within a 200-yard (180-meter) walking
distance or bicycling distance from a bicycle network that connects to at least one of the following:
·· at least 10 diverse uses;
·· a school or employment center, if the project total floor area is 50% or more residential; or
·· a bus rapid transit stop, light or heavy rail station, commuter rail station, or ferry terminal.
A project has a planned bike lane nearby, but construction will begin 2 years after occupancy. Does it qualify?
👉 Must be:
• fully funded
• completed within 1 year
Why does LEED require both network access and storage?
• network → enables bicycling
• storage + showers → supports user behavior
👉 Both are needed to change transportation habits
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