Easy accessibility is a key for all bike storage facilities. Cyclists should also be able to securely lock their bicycles without undue inconvenience and be confident that their bicycles are protected from intentional or accidental damage while being parked in the bike storage unit.

Due consideration should be given to the space that would be required for a rack full of bicycles in bike storage and also the fact that cyclists require a sufficient pathway in and out of the bike storage/ parking area. Each parking space must be accessible without shifting another bicycle from the rack within the bike storage area. Hence, at least 2 feet by 6 feet for each bicycle parking space should be allowed for each parking space in the bike storage faclity. In order to provide sufficient room for maneuvering, the aisle should be at least 5 feet wide behind all bicycle parking.

Staggered bike racks would allow room for more bicycles to be parked in the same bike storage facility. However, installing bicycle racks too close to a wall or too close to one another in the bike storage area could reduce the capacity of the number of bikes being parked by as much as 90%. Another point to be kept in mind is that bike racks should never be installed too close to car parking. Motorists would very rarely leave sufficient room for bicycles to park and maneuver if bicycle parking is not sufficiently separated from the car parking area.

Since prolonged exposure to the elements can cause bicycles to perish (i.e. exposure to rain can rust a bike’s metal frame and components; exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can deteriorate a bike’s soft seat and tires), cyclists would naturally look for weather protection in their bike storage facility. Designers of bike racks for bike storage areas should pay extra attention to providing a permanent cover which is designed to protect the bicycle from rainfall and be at least 7 feet above the ground.

A creative, low-cost way of providing shelter for the bikes in the bike storage area is to make use of existing overhangs and awnings. In instances where these are not available in the bike storage unit, enclosed bicycle lockers would be the best alternative. However, partial cover or a cover that is too high would not be appropriate for protection against weather. The cover should be intended to protect bicycles from the rain and the sun alike, and also protect the cyclist from rain when he is locking or unlocking the bicycle within the bike storage area.

Bicycle commuters often arrive at the bike storage facility wet, muddy or sweaty. In these instances, it would be apt to provide employees with a place to shower, change and store their clothes close to the bike storage area. This facility would also be useful, and therefore attract, employees who exercise during breaks or may occasionally need to wash and change clothes for other reasons. The following methods would help employers provide such facilities for their staff without incurring huge costs:

- Designing a shower and clothes lockers into new or retrofitted buildings
- Since a single shower room and space to change clothes would only require a six by four foot space, a shower and clothes lockers could easily be added to existing restrooms
- Businesses that are located close to one another could establish shower and changing facilities that could be shared by employees at several buildings
- Employers could also arrange for employees to use shower and changing rooms located at nearby recreation centers or gyms.

Parking signs serve several purposes. Not only do they inform the cyclists of the availability of the bicycle storage facility, they also help cyclists find the bike storage/ parking area if it is not immediately visible. Signs direct long-term users to intended long-term bike storage/ parking areas while keeping the more short-term bike storage/ parking areas open for its intended users.

It is advisable to post a sign at the main building entrance, informing the exact location of the bike storage area. This will definitely help cyclists to locate the bike storage/ parking facility if it is not immediately visible from where they approach the building.

A standard bike storage/ parking sign made of high-quality material would suffice to announce the bike storage or parking facility. One should avoid complicated signing schemes since this would only discourage the cyclist.