Cycling could become more common in Coquitlam if the city follows through on a proposal to increase bike parking at shops, homes and industrial parks.
An idea vetted by Coquitlam council this week would require 1.25 bike parking spaces for every multi-family unit while larger format buildings would need three for every 1,000 sq. m of floor area. Civic buildings, schools and institutions would have to have somewhere for cyclists to lock up, too.
While some people might think it's impossible to turn the suburbs into cycling nirvana, others believe making it easier to get around on two wheels will change our car-dominated culture.
And while bike parking is less costly and takes up less space than typical parking for mini-vans and SUVs, government efforts can't stop there because installing a couple of racks isn't going to get people out of their cars unless cycling routes are safe.
Do you agree that bike parking should be a requirement for new developments? Vote in our online poll.
