That question was asked under early versions of LEED, and LEED v4 provided an answer; though some of the numbers have changed, the fundamentals remain the same under v4.1. If you’re pursuing this credit, plan not only to provide bike storage and changing facilities, but also to ensure that the project is connected to a "bicycle network"—bicycle trails or lanes that connect, within three miles bicycling distance, to at least 10 diverse uses, a school of employment center, or a transit stop.

Under v4.1, walking distances have been raised to make them easier to hit: short-term bicycle storage must be within 200 feet (60 meters) walking distance of any main entrance. Long-term bicycle storage must be within 300 feet (90 meters) walking distance of any functional entry.

Beware double-counting! You don’t get to include bike racks that actually belong to other buildings. But bike-sharing facilities do count, and zero-lot-line projects can include publicly available bike parking.

Case 1: Commercial or Institutional Projects

LEED v4.1 requires 2.5% coverage with short-term bike parking, while requiring 5% coverage for regular building occupants with long-term parking. In each case, a minimum of four spaces must be provided on all projects.

LEED v4.1 also requires one onsite shower with changing facility  for the first 100 occupants (a 1% rate), and then another for each additional 150 occupants (a 0.7% rate). But note that there’s a new exception for large buildings: after the 999th building occupant, you need one shower per 500 additional people, and if you have more than 5,000 people, you only need to provide one shower per 1,000 of those additional occupants.

Case 2: Residential Projects

Residential projects must provide short-term bicycle storage for at least 2.5% of all peak visitors, and provide long-term bicycle storage for at least 15% (half of that required in v4) of all regular building occupants. There are also minimums: four short-term spaces, and one long-term space per three residential units (another easier threshold than found in v4).

Quality of bike storage gets its due

LEED v4 and v4.1 requirements also address the quality of the bike storage itself.

Bicyclists know that all bike racks are not created equal. Beware of “wheel bender” bike racks and other types of bike racks that neither keep the bike supported nor secure the bike effectively. For LEED, bike racks should “reflect best practices in design and installation,” according to the LEED Reference Guide.

That typically means supporting the bicycle in at least two places to keep it from falling over, and allowing the owner to lock both the bicycle frame and one or both wheels with a U-lock. The rack must be securely anchored and resistant to cutting, rusting, bending, and other deformation.

BuildingGreen offers guidance and a curated list of how to find quality bike racks.

What’s new in LEED v4.1

• Thresholds for long-term storage have been significantly reduced for residential projects.
• Walking distances for both short-term and long-term storage have increased.
• Guidance for buildings with at higher occupancy numbers has been added.
• Double-counting is explicitly forbidden.
• Bike sharing stations have been added as compliant (they count for half).
• Guidance for zero-lot-line projects allows public bike storage to serve the building.

Should I upgrade?

The v4.1 version of this credit has relaxed thresholds to make them more realistic for projects of all types. However, be mindful of building occupants’ needs and potential commuting habits. Don’t shortchange them on bike amenities if they’re likely to want or need them.