This credit interpretation is in reference to an international airline terminal in a dense urban setting. Previous LEED 2.0 Credit Interpretation Rulings indicate that the number of bike racks for a given project must accommodate 5% of the FTE staff and transient occupancy loads of the building. While this is an appropriate requirement for many projects, our project has a several conditions that do not make it possible to meet the 5% threshold for our transient occupants. To begin, typical transient occupants at airports differ from transient occupants of other building types in that they do not arrive and leave the same day. An airport transient occupant also typically brings luggage and is not able to ride to and from the airport. That said, there are likely some transient occupants (airline shuttle commuters perhaps) who would desire to ride to and from the airport. Unfortunately, for reasons of safety and security, it is not physically possible or permitted by the airport authority to ride a bike to our terminal. Even if paths were provided, security requirements prohibit passengers from leaving any items unattended on airport premises.Fortunately, there is bus service available that allows cyclists to put their bike on the bus rack and then ride to the terminal. Because this service is available, the design team will be including bike racks and showers in back-of-house areas to accommodate 5% of the staff occupancy (racks for 36 bikes and well over the required 4.5 showers). Also, even given the obstacles noted above, the design team and the airport authority did come up with a plan to include bike racks at the Water Taxi and Shuttle stop. This will accommodate 18 bikes and allow some people to secure their bikes and then take a shuttle to the terminal if they are willing and able. Obviously, 18 does not accommodate 5% of the 40,000 daily passengers, but 2,000 bike racks would not be a reasonable requirement. The airport is, however, committed to adding more racks at that location if necessary to suit demandThe design team and the airport authority feel that these measures meet the intent of this LEED Credit and request that the USGBC rule that international airports seeking LEED Certification be exempt from having to provide bike racks for its transient occupants providing that the project demonstrate compliance with this credit in relation to the staff occupancy.
As instructed in the LEED Reference Guide, full time equivalents (FTE = worker hours / 8) for peak loads must be calculated and accommodated with bike racks and changing/shower facilities as per credit requirements. These items must be located within 200 yards of the building (per LEED Version 2.1 credit requirements). The FTE calculation must include all WORKERS on the site (See SS Credit 4, Equation 1, in the Reference Guide). For airport terminals, "workers" would include staff involved in ticketing, ground operations, security, retail, food concessions, etc. Although not required by LEED, maximizing alternative transportation opportunities for transient occupants (such as regular commuters) should be addressed if appropriate and possible. Applicable Internationally.