Every tried to wrangle your bike lock around a massive tree trunk? Or wandered aimlessly looking for a rack, only to settle for a sign or a railing? Put your frustrations aside, because there will (likely) soon be a standard amount of space reserved for your trusty Trek. Derek Parr, Vice Chairman of BPAC and the original author of the ordinance, stresses the need for proper bicycle parking. “You do not look for someone with a swim suit and decide that there needs to be a pool there. There is a need for proper bicycle parking,” he says, If the Eau Claire City Council gives the green light, any new businesses (or those that are remodeling) would need to provide one bike space for every ten car stalls. For schools, the equations differ: there must be ample room for 10% of an elementary school’s student body and 5% of a middle-or-high school’s student body. The City will quantify parking standards for colleges and Universities on a case-by-case basis. And while single-family homes are off the hook, multi-family units would be responsible for one space per apartment, unless there is an available garage. The law will likely also contain a provision for snow removal. Property owners must remove those pesky heaps of snow surrounding the racks. Parr adds that advocacy is still key if bikers encounter inadequate parking at existing businesses. “… Speak with business owners and administrators to tell them that you desire adequate and safe bicycle parking at their location,” he advises.