Note: This pilot credit was closed for new registrations as of March 1, 2012.
This pilot credit is an evolution of the current credit in the LEED 2009 rating systems. The most notable difference is the new requirement for proximity to a bicycle network, one that is largely taken from LEED for Neighborhood Development with slight modifications for a single-building context. The Location and Planning Technical Advisory Group (LP TAG) believes that only providing bicycle storage and changing rooms does not completely ensure the environmental benefits of reduced automobile use and increased bicycle use. Building occupants will have greater incentive to take bicycles to and from the project if the project is close to accommodating routes, thus the addition of the bicycle network requirement. With a higher likelihood of occupant bicycle use comes a higher likelihood of reduced vehicle miles traveled and increased occupant physical activity.
Within the storage and changing room portion of the credit, the storage requirement thresholds are essentially twice that of the proposed new prerequisite on bicycle storage in the draft LEED 2012 documents. (Please visit Register a username at LEEDuser.com, and participate in online forum
- Submit the feedback survey using the link on the USGBC.org credit page; supply PDF of your survey/confirmation of completion with credit documentation
Credit Specific
1. A map with project boundary, bicycle route from the boundary to existing bicycle network, and one of the following:
a. A bicycle network of at least 5 miles in length (label each segment of network according to bicycle network definition)
b. Existing network routes to school and/or an employment center (label each segment of network according to bicycle network definition)
c. Routes to at least 10 diverse uses, including use identification (label each segment of network according to bicycle network definition and show distances to each use).
2. For planned and funded bicycle networks, documentation of committed funding from one of the following:
a. Metropolitan planning organization improvement program
b. Locality capital improvement program (or similar)
c. Developer contribution bonded or otherwise secured per local government approval.
3. For Case 1:
a. Indication of the total number of compliant bicycle racks and/or storage spaces, the peak building users (FTE + Peak Transients), and percent of building users with secure bicycle racks and/or storage spaces
b. Indication of the total number of complaint showers and/or changing fa-cilities and FTE (does not include residents).
4. For Case 2: Indication of the total covered bicycle storage capacity, total resi-dents, and percent of residents with covered bicycle storage.
5. A site plan identifying the location of the bicycle racks and/or storage facilities, and the shower/changing facilities for non-residential spaces.
Additional Questions
- From your perspective as a LEED project team member, does the additional requirement for bicycle network proximity offer more assurance that building occupants will bike to and from the project? Why or why not?
- Do you believe that the 200 yard walking distance between the network and the building entrance is appropriate, too strict, or too lenient? Why or why not?