Nearly 60 people, including DowntownDC BID Infrastructure & Sustainability department staff members, turned out for a ULI Washington bicycle forum, “The Next Generation of Bicycle-Friendly Building Design,” last week. With bicycling in the D.C. region on the rise, and more people than ever commuting by bike, an expert panel explored what this growing trends means for the future of buildings and development in the National Capital Region. The panelists included Shane Farthing, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA); Jennifer Toole, principle-in-charge of the Toole Design Group, specializing in bicycle and pedestrian transportation; and Anthony Greenberg, senior vice president of development at The JBG Companies, the real estate investment, development and management company.
Farthing emphasized that cities are encouraging people to ride bikes as a way to use outdoor space more efficiently to accommodate future growth. In general, safety has been a big issue for people considering biking for transportation (and also for fun), but cycle tracks now appear on a few Downtown DC streets and elsewhere to provide greater separation between cyclists and traffic. Other tools that Farthing says encourages biking: indoor, covered and secure bike parking; showers for workers; and bikesharing options, such as Capital Bikeshare (CaBi).
Toole told the attendees that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita is declining. With more companies, including hers, offering employees incentives to bike or use alternative transportation modes, the trend is likely to continue. What Toole Design offers employees: a $1.50 per day allotment to bike or walk to work; folding bikes and helmets for employees to borrow; in-office bike repair kits; and subsidized public transit. As for in-garage bike parking, she said racks should be located near an elevator, ideally on the first level of the garage, and rack designs should be given considerable thought to provide good, secure bicycle protection.
Wolf believes bike parking will follow fitness centers in moving from the darkest, farthest reaches of buildings to a more prominent location. Currently, JBG tenants can borrow bicycles for free at some of its developments. The company also promotes bike culture through community rides, events and by providing move-in information. It is thinking about offering in-unit [residential] bike parking, Fixit stands, bike vending machines, and a Bike & Ride facility at the Twinbrook Metro Station in Rockville, Maryland. JBG is paying to have two CaBi stations installed at its Northeast, D.C., Fort Totten Square mixed-use development, which also will be equipped with three bike storage rooms. The development will have 350 apartment units and a ground floor Walmart.
Wolf noted that Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington already have begun designing residential buildings specifically for cyclists, a trend that has taken off in those areas. But those buildings tend to be smaller than the typical JBG building. In the future, the company may consider siting buildings located near bike lanes, but hasn’t yet considered bike counts—the number of cyclists who bike by a given location—for retail locations. Often pedestrian counts are considered for retail siting.