This Friday: Bicycle Access Law Takes Effect

Bicycles inside Silverstein Properties’ 7 World Trade Center. Photo: Transportation Alternatives.

It’s been almost 120 days since the Bicycle Access Bill was signed into law, which means that this Friday, December 11, the law will actually take effect. If you work in an office building (with a freight elevator) where bikes are currently banned, you’ll be able to officially request access under the aegis of the Bicycle Access Law.

How does it work? Luckily, other people have done the legwork and put together some nice guides to the new law.

• The city’s Bikes in Buildings Program has posted helpful resources and answers for commuters who want to bring their bikes inside the workplace. Check their website on Friday for the form you’ll need to initially request bicycle access.
• Transportation Alternatives has a concise, step-by-step guide to the process of securing bike access, which you can download here.
• Streetsblogger BicyclesOnly put together this thorough explanation of the new law on Streetswiki.

Once employees start asking for bike access to their buildings, it will be interesting to see how landlords and building managers respond. Who will grant access when it’s requested, and who will stubbornly cling to the belief that bicycles don’t belong inside?