City staff is recommending that building owners in downtown Guelph be required to provide bicycle parking for employees, customers and residents.
The recommendation is found in a discussion paper for city council to consider as it moves towards updating existing downtown zoning by-laws.
The plan is to have the updated by-laws in place by the end of the year, following drafts and the input of both the public, stakeholders and council.
A Bicycle Parking Standards is part of that discussion paper.
"It is recommended that a new regulation be added to the Downtown Zoning By-Law to require non-residential uses to provide long term bicycle parking (for employees) and short term bicycle parking (for visitors)," reads the discussion paper.
"Bicycle parking requirements for high density residential zones in downtown is also recommended."
The bicycle parking for employees should be "secure and covered" the paper says.
The bicycle parking at apartment and condominium buildings should be "in a secure weather protected area of the building which would include bicycle racks in a monitored area, a limited access room or garage and bicycle lockers."
The city is in the process of updating its downtown zoning by-law to keep in step with the city's Downtown Secondary Plan. Recommendations cover everything from building height maximum and minimums, design standards, parking rules and protection of heritage buildings.
City staff is creating a draft of the new downtown by-law and it will be presented to council and opened for public engagement before a final draft is created.