Michael Cass

mcass@tennessean.com

Bicycle riders should have plenty of new places to park in Nashville’s urban core in the years ahead.

The Metro Council approved new requirements Tuesday for bicycle parking in neighborhoods such as 12South and Germantown. The ordinance will apply to any new buildings and any large additions to existing buildings in specific urban zoning districts.

“This is an important bill that I think we will continue to see play an important part as Nashville continues to grow,” said Councilman Peter Westerholm, a co-sponsor. “I think this is going to be something we can all look back on in the years to come and say this was the first step to becoming a truly multimodal city.”

The new rules lay out the number of parking spots required for different types of buildings. For example, an apartment building will need one space for every four units, with at least two and no more than 50 spaces required, some of which will have to be open to the public, not just residents. Fast-food and full-service restaurants will be required to offer four spaces each.

Jennifer Carlat, assistant director of the Metro Planning Department, said some parking will be right next to the front door, but most can be farther away to give property owners more flexibility.

Adams Carroll, program manager with Walk/Bike Nashville, said most developers have been offering bike parking in recent years. But styles of bike racks vary, and spaces can be hard to find.

“What (the ordinance) does, and I think it’s really valuable and important to cyclists, is it formalizes the quantity and the character of the bicycle parking that goes in,” Carroll said.

Reach Michael Cass at 615-259-8838 and on Twitter @tnmetro.