Letter to Grand Junction City Council - changes to bicycle parking requirements

July 15, 2026

City Council

City of Grand Junction

240 N. 5^th Street

Grand Junction, Colorado 81501

To: Grand Junction City Council

The Grand Valley Streets Alliance recommends that the City Council postpone a decision on changes to requirements for bicycle parking and storage until a collaborative solution can be reached.  We understand the need to reduce building costs in order to make houses more affordable, but the proposed changes would do little to reduce costs while increasing transportation costs for residents and workers.

The Housing Affordability Code Task Force (HACTF) has shown that enclosed bicycle parking facilities have been underutilized in some places.  However, in many other locations (such as the Junction apartments and Ratekin Towers) these facilities are being used very heavily.  Instead of eliminating the requirement for enclosed bike parking altogether, the code should preserve a meaningful minimum for enclosed bike parking.  GVSA would welcome the chance to collaborate with the City to find a more acceptable number.

Enclosed parking should also continue to be required for new retail and other businesses, so that employees and customers who bike can have a safe, secure place to store their bicycles.

The proposed changes to existing design standards for bicycle racks would likely increase costs while reducing functionality.  Current design standards are very clear and specific.  For example, the current standards state that “Bicycle racks shall provide two points of contact with the bicycle frame such as an inverted “U” or a post or a ring”.  An increase in ambiguity could create delays in permit processing when proposed designs don’t meet unstated standards.

GVSA would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with the City and the Housing Affordability Code Task Force to find solutions that address housing costs without eliminating infrastructure that supports active transportation.

We urge the City Council to postpone the decision on these proposed revisions to allow for broader community input, so that any changes to bike parking standards balance housing affordability with the transportation needs of residents who rely on bikes to get around.

Sincerely,

Matt Speth

President, Grand Valley Streets Alliance