The recommended bike rack for most installations is the "Inverted U" Such racks can be seen along the downtown sidewalks of Bend and Redmond, as well as in Drake Park and at St. Charles Medical Center.     
While other racks can meet the intent of the ordinance, the "Inverted U" is the first choice for its simplicity and security for bicyclists, and for its low cost and ease of installation for developers. There is a local manufacturer from whom the rack can be ordered. If you want to make your own, the design is simple.
 
The "Ribbon" rack is NOT recommended, because it is often installed incorrectly and provides only one point of support for the bicycle.
 
How Many Racks to Install
City & County codes require installation of specific numbers of covered and uncovered bicycle parking spaces, depending on the type of construction project. For the actual number of spaces required for your project, please consult a planner or the ordinance. The relevant ordinances are Bend 10.10.24 (8-9) and Deschutes County 18.116.031

Note that in Bend you can reduce the required amount of costly motor vehicle parking by 5 percent when you provide twice as much bicycle parking as required and another 5 percent when you provide showers and lockers for employees.

Racks must be installed correctly to provide the required number of spaces. Beware that some rack manufacturers may claim that a given rack provides a certain number of spaces, when, in fact, it may not do so by our ordinances.
 
 
For developers desiring racks with sculptural qualities, "Spiral" racks are preferred. Such racks can be seen in the Mt. Bachelor, Inc. park & ride lot. Many other unique designs are also suitable.
 
Do not select "School Yard" or other "Wheel Bender" type racks that support bikes by only one wheel! They can damage bikes and do not meet the intent of the ordinances.

If you have any questions about an appropriate rack choice or suppliers, please contact Commute Options for Central Oregon at 330-2647.
 
 
Covered Parking
Most developments must provide a portion of required bike parking under cover. This requirement is primarily to serve employees and residents who must park their bikes for long periods. Such cyclists need to protect the working components of their bikes from prolonged rain and sun exposure. A bike exposed all day is equivalent to a car parked in the rain and sun with no hood and roof to protect the engine and interior.
 
The preferred way to provide covered bike parking is by designing building overhangs to cover racks. If the architect is consulted early in the process, generally little or no additional expense is needed. A retrofitted roof extension is another reasonable alternative.

In either case, the overhang must be generous to protect bikes from blowing rain and snow. Of note is that most Central Oregon storms blow from the southwest, so covered locations are best located on the north and east sides of buildings to minimize the necessary overhang.

A third choice is a detached, covered bike parking structure. It must be located and built carefully to protect bicycles from blowing rain. It is often cheaper to install enclosed bike lockers than it is to build a separate structure. Mt. Bachelor found this to be the case at their park & ride lot where their bike lockers can be seen.

Finally, covered parking can be provided inside a building, such as in a storage room, in a stairwell, or in a foyer if it isn't in the way of pedestrians.