Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycle Parking

How Much Would You Pay to Park Your Bike in an NYC Garage?

bike_parking_pic.jpg

What's a reasonable price for off-street bike parking? As New York City parking facilities start complying with the Bicycle Access to Garages Law, which took effect a little more than a month ago, the rates are looking pretty steep. This photo comes to us from reader BicyclesOnly, who says the $6 daily rate shown here (tax included) is the best deal he's found -- a steal compared to the $15 daily rate he's encountered elsewhere.

The law, which requires parking facilities with more than 50 car spaces to provide space for bikes too, leaves bike parking rates to the market. So far, bike parking in garages is looking like a luxury service, which makes one appreciate the free workplace access enabled by the Bikes in Buildings Law all the more. But should bike parking rates be quite this expensive? That stiff 18 percent tax might be an illegal surcharge. Per the excellent wiki entry on this law by BicyclesOnly:

Pursuant to authority granted by New York Tax Law Section 1107, NewYork city is permitted to collect taxes on the rental of parking spacesfor motor vehicles.  New York City does not appear to be authorizedto collect taxes on the rental of parking spaces for human-poweredvehicles, and so parking facility operators should not charge a tax tobicycle parkers.

Streetsblog has a request in with the Department of Consumer Affairs to determine whether garages can legally charge this tax. We'll keep you posted.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Friday’s Headlines: Habemus Knicksum Edition

It was a big day yesterday, but we're not on the sports or the religion desk, so let's get to our news.

May 9, 2025

Friday Video: Who Ruined Outdoor Dining?

We sent our own video team to find out.

May 9, 2025

Decision 2025: Mayoral Hopefuls Discuss E-Bikes … With Joy and Concern

E-bikes are a vital tool for delivery workers and for people seeking to reduce their use of private cars. What would you do to both expand e-bike use and make streets safer? And the answers are...

Live from Albany: Hochul’s ‘Safety’ Measures Stripped from Budget

Lawmakers dropped three initiatives that Gov. Hochul said would have made roadways safer (though, as we'll see, that's very much in question). Let's review them.

May 9, 2025

Anatomy of an Operation: How Cops Target Cyclists for New Criminal Summonses

Streetsblog brings you inside what's happening on the street.

May 8, 2025
See all posts