1. Find the Rack Location within this website and use the form at the bottom of the page to report it, or,
2. Call 311 to report the Rack Location. Always ask the operator for the Service Request number - this is your tracking number.

Always lock both the bike frame and at least one wheel to the bike rack. When parking for a short period, you may choose to lock the front wheel and frame. For added security or when you will be parked for more than two hours, use a U-lock to lock the back wheel and frame and use another U-lock or strong cable to lock the front wheel to the rack, frame and/or first U-lock. Make sure that there is little slack in the cable; thieves break locks by hitting them against the ground with a heavy object. Always take any removable items like quick-release seats, lights, mirrors or panniers with you so that they will not be stolen. For more information, see Preventing Bicycle Theft.

• Through this website, Bike Parking Public Interface
• By calling the City of Chicago's 311 hotline

If you call 311, you can ask the operator for the "SR number" of your request, which can be used to track the  progress of your request on our website.

If you request a bike rack through our website, you will receive an automatic email response confirming that we've received your request. This response will include a tracking number, so you can follow the progress of your request on our website.

We receive more than 1,000 requests for bike racks each year, so unfortunately we are not able to make personal replies to each bike rack request.

Between 450 and 500 bike racks can be installed each year. Given the limited number of racks to install throughout the city, generally no more than one or two racks will be installed at any one location.

Bike racks are installed all year long, depending on the weather and sidewalk conditions. However, most bike racks are installed between the months of May and October. Often the weather or sidewalk conditions (water, snow, ice, and salt residue) can interfere with installation between November and April.

Bike racks can only be installed in locations that meet the following criteria:

• there is sufficient demand/necessity for bike parking
• the location is on public property (e.g., sidewalks, CTA property, Chicago Park District property)
• the sidewalk is at least 10 feet wide
• there is a suitable concrete surface upon which to mount the rack (not asphalt, grass/dirt, etc.)
• the location is at least 40 feet behind bus stop signs/bus shelters
• 6 feet from the outside edge of sidewalk cafes
• at least 4 feet from general utilities
• at least 3 feet from curb, fence, walls, and fire hydrants
• at least 2 feet from outside edge of tree planter basins
• at least 6 feet from CTA subway exit portals
  

The best locations for bike racks are locations where they will be used most frequently by the greatest number of people. Locations known to be popular destinations  for bicyclists, or locations where it is desirable to encourage more bicycling are good places for bike racks. Some examples:

• CTA and Metra stations (inside and out)
• schools, colleges, universities
• libraries
• government buildings
• parks and recreational facilities
• gyms and fitness centers
• restaurants, bars, coffee houses
• grocery and other retail stores
• large office buildings
• banks/financial institutions

Generally, bike racks are not installed at the following types of locations:

• on sidewalks that are less than 10 feet wide
• on corners
• streets/areas that are primarily residential in nature (including homes, apartments, condominiums)
• private property
• directly in front of an entrance to a building
• within a marked loading zone (usually a signed "no parking" area in front of the entrance to a business or other facility)
• within or near a handicapped accessible facility/ramp
• inside bus stop zones (within 40 feet of sign/shelter)
• areas that have no obvious destinations (vacant lots, empty storefronts)
• areas where the sidewalk is too crowded with other types of street furniture
• on certain vaulted sidewalks, or sidewalks with heating devices embedded in the concrete (with some exceptions)
• on granite, marble, or other "architectural" sidewalks (with some exceptions)

Additionally, fewer bike racks are installed at locations where there are many parking meters, as the City of Chicago recognizes parking meters as good and legal places to park bicycles.

Installation can happen in a few weeks, other times it may take several months. Many  factors influence if and when a bike rack can be installed, so the date and time of installation cannot be guaranteed.

Bike rooms and other bike parking facilities are becoming an important, popular amenity in many new and renovated office and condo buildings. Ask about these facilities when choosing a new office or home. Let your current building owner or management know that you and others in your building desire indoor bike parking and offer to help design, operate or construct the facility. If the opportunity arises, consider providing shower and changing facilities as well. If you have a health club or gym in your building consider partnering to provide cyclists with discounted access to lockers and showers. Remember that even a small space—the area under a stairwell, a closet, dead space in a hallway—can provide parking for several bikes.

Please see our Indoor and Private Bike Parking section.

While the City cannot install bike racks on private property, CDOT’s Bicycle Program provides free consulting services on purchasing and installing bike parking. Our free publication, Bike Parking for Your Business, provides detailed information on choosing and locating bike parking fixtures. For more information visit our online publication request form.

For more information, see our Guides for Establishing Bike Parking or contact us.

Bike racks are installed on City property (most commonly sidewalks) at no charge to building owners or residents of Chicago. The bike rack program is funded through federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants, which have allowed over $2 million worth of bike racks to be installed throughout Chicago.

The current bike rack design, an inverted-U made of 2" x 2" domestic steel that is 1/4 (.25) inch thick, is used for its proven security and aesthetic qualities. The U shape allows bikes to be supported at two points when bikes are parked parallel to racks - allowing cyclists to have both hands free when locking and unlocking bicycles. Chicago bike racks are powder-coated in a black finish that resists scrapes and rust. In the late 90's the city moved from round-tubed to square-tubed steel in order to prevent bike thieves from cutting racks to remove bikes.

The Chicago Bike Parking Program can help your business get bike parking. We see two situations for which businesses need bike parking:

1. To satisfy zoning requirements. The Municipal Code of Chicago may require that you provide a minimum number of bike parking spaces on your private property. We will provide free consultation on how to proceed and from where to purchase bike racks. Contact us and we'll talk.
2. To provide bike parking for employees and customers. Request bike parking using the form on our homepage.

Also, please read our brochure, "Bike Parking For Your Business."

The CDOT Bicycle Program removes abandoned bikes locked to city-owned racks and street furniture. Report abandoned bikes on city-owned racks and street furniture by calling 311. Abandoned bikes and parts are donated to Working Bikes, a not-for-profit organization that repairs landfill-bound bicycles to working condition and sells them to Chicagoans at a low cost in order to fund shipments of bicycles and parts to developing countries.

Read more information about this procses.