Bicycle Network: Workplace

Online surveys

We have a number of online surveys available which can be used to determine a workplace's amenity to riding to work. You can conduct an audit of what your workplace has.  Alternatively, you can provide a survey to gain perceptions from employees.

On-site visits

If you are in the Melbourne area, representatives from Ride2Work and the Bike Parking Experts can arrage a site visit

Green Building Council Rating

Companies today are spending serious money on bike parking and support services for riders. Some are fitting out new buildings in a way that meets the criteria set by the Green Building Council of Australia to achieve Green Star ratings. Green Star is a comprehensive, national, voluntary environmental rating system that evaluates the environmental design and construction of buildings and, with 11 per cent of Australia's CBD commercial office buildings Green Star certified, building green is now a business imperative. Green Star was developed for the property industry in order to:
* Establish a common language;
* Set a standard of measurement for green buildings;
* Promote integrated, whole-building design;
* Recognise environmental leadership;
* Identify building life-cycle impacts; and
* Raise awareness of green building benefits.

The GBC rating tool offers three points 'To encourage and recognise developments that facilitate the use of bicycles by occupants and visitors.' One point is awarded for each of the following:

- secure bicycle storage for 5% of building staff based on one person per 15m2 of the net leaseable area (NLA)
- accessible showers based on one per 10 bicycle spaces provided

An additional point is awarded where the requirements for either one or two points have been met; and visitor bicycle parking is provided and meets the criteria of one space per 750m2 NLA or part thereof, that is provided in an accessible location.

These broad categories are described in more detail in the technical manual for those seeking to earn the three points. For example the technical manual says that 'Railings, lampposts and other non-purposeful bike parking facilities do not comply' with the rating for visitor parking.
 

Feedback

Feedback from riders using bike parking that has been awarded three points has varied. Some of the bike parking is excellent and some has been criticised by riders. We aim through these online assessments to provide feedback to the Green Building Council on workplace bike parking.

From this feedback we will be able to recommend changes to the technical manual as well as provide more detailed advice to the GBC and anyone upgrading, installing or retrofitting bicycle parking facilities.

Our categories

We have broken up the workplace bicycle parking system into the following categories:

• Approach
• The Structure
• Access and security
• Useability
• Amenities
• Location

Case Study - Detailed Audit - RMIT University

The RMIT University commissioned Bicycle Network Victoria to carry out a bike audit of their existing bike parking facilities as part of their Bicycle Plan.

The purpose of this audit was to assess the current bike parking facilities, make recommendations and to gain a greater understanding of user behaviour.

RMIT's aim is to improve bike parking facilities that encourage staff and students to consider riding as a viable alternative, rather than using public transport or a car.