Every cycle store is drawn from the same handful of dimensions: stand or rack centres, clearance to walls, aisle width and ceiling height. LTN 1/20 sets the planning figures: 1.0m minimum between Sheffield stands, a 1.8m minimum aisle (Table 11-2) and at least 2.7m headroom for two-tier racks (11.4.11). Our own standards sit alongside them: Sheffield stands at 750mm centres, two-tier racks at 375mm centres and a minimum ceiling of 2,500mm, with LTN 1/20 spacing on request. This guide puts both side by side, with DWG downloads for each product.
Why cycle parking standards are so important
Bike parking dimensions are checked at planning. A submission has to show the location, stand or rack type, spacing, numbers, fixing method and access route, and the officer checks the layout against LTN 1/20 Table 11-2 or the local standard covered in our LTN 1/20 cycle parking standards guide.
Stands set too close together stop taking two bicycles each, so a 40-space store holds 20 (11.4.7). A store that is awkward to wheel a bicycle through sits empty while bikes are locked to the railings outside. BREEAM Tra 03 credits and Secured by Design approval are both assessed against the drawn layout, so the dimensions get settled before the planning drawings go in. Our in-house design team will check a layout against the standard, or draw one from your room dimensions, with no obligation.
Cycle stand spacing and clearances: LTN 1/20 Table 11-2
Table 11-2 is written for banks of Sheffield stands, and its centres and clearances apply to any two-point-locking stand, including M stands and toastrack hoops. It gives no rack centres: two-tier, semi-vertical and vertical racks use the manufacturer’s figures below, and only the aisle, clearance and headroom rules here apply to them.
| Dimension | Recommended | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Bay length (cycle parked on a stand) | 2.0m | 2.0m |
| Bay length (tandems, trailers and accessible cycles) | 3.0m | 2.5m |
| Access aisle width, larger cycles in end bay only | 3.0m | 1.8m |
| Access aisle width, large cycles in internal bays | 4.0m | 3.0m |
| Edge access aisle plus one bay to the side | 5.0 to 6.0m | 3.8 to 5.0m |
| Central access aisle plus one bay each side | 7.0 to 8.0m | 5.8 to 7.0m |
| Spacing between stands | 1.2m | 1.0m |
| Gap between stand and wall (part of bay width) | 700mm (typical wheel diameter) | 500mm |
Source: LTN 1/20 Table 11-2, recommended and minimum dimensions for banks of Sheffield stands.
Stands need 0.6m clearance to walls and 1.0m clear in front so the bicycle can be wheeled into position (11.4.6). Too close to a wall and the frame cannot be locked at two points; too close together and capacity halves (11.4.7). Where three-wheeled cycles are provided for, lateral spacing rises to at least 2.0m (11.4.8).
Our galvanised Sheffield cycle stand is 750mm high and 750mm long, inside the Bicycle Association standard’s 750mm (±30mm) rail height and 750 to 1,000mm length. The M cycle stand,at 800mm high, suits small-wheel and children’s bikes (11.4.5).
Aisle widths and room layout
| Situation | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Aisle providing the main two-way access | 3.0m |
| Between two rows of two-tier racks at right angles to the aisle | 2.5m |
| Clear space in front of a two-tier rack to load the lowered tray | 2.0m |
| Clear width elsewhere, including doorways | 1.5m |
| Ceiling height for two-tier racks | 2.7m (also LTN 1/20 11.4.11); our two-tier racks need 2.5m |
| Ceiling height where access is by cycle | 2.3m |
| Ceiling height where access is on foot | 2.1m |
Source: Bicycle Association / Sustrans Standards for Public Cycle Parking (2021), clauses 5.3.2, 5.5.1, 5.6.4, 5.6.5 and 5.6.7.
Take a 7m × 8m bike storage room with a central 3m aisle and parking along both 8m walls. Sheffield stands at LTN 1/20’s 1.0m centres give 16 stands and 32 spaces; at our standard 750mm centres the same two walls take 20 stands and 40 spaces. Semi-vertical racks at 305mm centres give 52 spaces, with 1.3m loaded depth plus 0.75m entrance space each side. Two-tier racks at our standard 375mm centres give 84 spaces, with 1.3m loading space in front of each row, 2,500mm of ceiling for our racks and 2.7m to LTN 1/20. Space for non-standard cycles is additional, covered below.
Footprints by product type
LTN 1/20 gives no rack or locker centres, these come from the manufacturer. The figures below are from our specification sheets, with spaces per metre derived from the published centres.
| Product type | Footprint | Height / headroom | Spaces per linear metre | Product |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield stand (2 spaces) | 750mm wide, 50mm tube; underground-fix version 1,000mm overall | 750mm above ground | 2 at LTN 1/20’s 1.0m minimum centres (about 1.7 at the 1.2m recommended); about 2.7 at our standard 750mm centres | Sheffield cycle stand |
| M stand (2 spaces) | 946mm wide, 50mm tube | 800mm above ground (1,000mm underground-fix) | As Sheffield | M cycle stand |
| Two-tier rack (2 bikes per frame) | 375mm centres (our standard); 1,900mm deep plus 1,300mm loading space (gas-assisted 2,050mm deep) |
2,500mm minimum ceiling for our racks; LTN 1/20 requires at least 2.7m (11.4.11) | About 5.3 | Two-tier cycle rack, gas-assisted two-tier |
| Semi-vertical rack | 305mm centres; 1,114mm deep (about 1,300mm loaded) plus 750mm entrance space | 1,785mm | About 3.3 | Semi-vertical cycle rack |
| Vertical wall rack | 390 × 90 × 595mm unit; 305mm centres; 1,080mm clear access in front | 2,100mm minimum | About 3.3 | Vertical cycle rack |
| Free-standing vertical rack | 305mm centres; 1,115mm deep plus 500mm entrance space | 1,750mm | About 3.3 | Free-standing vertical cycle rack |
| Folding bike locker (3 compartments) | 450mm wide × 650mm deep; compartment 630 × 440 × 650mm | 2,150mm | About 6.7 folding bikes | Folding bike locker |
| Vertical bike locker (1 bike) | 800mm wide × 1,100mm deep | 1,990mm | 1.25 | Vertical bike locker |
| Cargo cycle stand | 1,500mm long; LTN 1/20 bay 2.5 to 3.0m, 2.0m lateral spacing | 375mm | About 0.5 at 2.0m spacing | Cargo cycle stand |
| E-scooter rack (10 e-scooters) | 1,810mm long | 1,000mm | About 5.5 | E-scooter rack |
Each option trades floor area against ease of use. Two-tier racks hold the most bicycles per metre but need the upper tray lifted, which the gas-assisted version eases. Semi-vertical racks need a smaller lift; vertical racks demand the most of the user’s height and strength. LTN 1/20 notes that two-tier suits the standard two-metre cycle, with separate provision for non-standard cycles (11.4.9 to 11.4.10).
A 2.5 to 2.7m ceiling will take our two-tier rack but sits below the LTN 1/20 requirement. At Lanark Road in Maida Vale, ceiling heights varied across the building and two-tier only fitted comfortably in one area, so semi-vertical racks and Sheffield stands made up the rest of the 150 internal spaces.
Shelter and enclosure sizes
Shelter width is stand spacing plus 0.6m wall clearance each side (11.4.6). The 10-space Original cycle shelter measures 4,100mm wide × 2,100mm deep × 2,100mm high, houses five toastracks and extends in 2m bays. The 20-space version is 8,150 × 2,100 × 2,100mm. The 20-space Amazon Eco two-tier shelter is 4,100 × 2,100 × 2,860mm: the same ground footprint as the 10-space Original, for twice the bicycles. The security cycle enclosure measures 5,200 × 4,100 × 2,100mm with Sheffield stands inside; two-tier versions run to 3,100mm high, with sizes on each specification sheet. Sizes for the rest of the range are on the cycle shelters pages.
Space for non-standard cycles
LTN 1/20 sets aside typically 5% of capacity for non-standard cycles such as cargo bikes, tandems and trikes (11.3.2). These spaces sit at ground level with no lift, co-located with disabled car parking. Each needs a 2.5 to 3.0m bay and 2.0m lateral spacing (Table 11-2, 11.4.8), which is the footprint our cargo cycle stand is drawn to, with a 3 to 4m aisle where large cycles use internal bays. For comparison, the Bicycle Association standard’s envelope for a standard bicycle is about 1,800mm long, 700mm wide at the handlebars and 1,200mm high (clause 5.2.2).
Drawings and downloads
- Sheffield stand DWG
- Two-tier rack DWG
- Vertical rack DWG
- Tenant cycle store DWG
- E-bike charging stand DWG
- Full downloads library: DWG CAD blocks, CAD models and specification sheets
Our in-house design team prepares specification-ready layouts to LTN 1/20 dimensions for architects, contractors and facilities managers, backed by a complimentary site survey. Every product is manufactured in Britain with a 10-year warranty.
Send us the room dimensions and our in-house design team will return a layout drawn to LTN 1/20 or to our standard centres, or check the one you have, with no obligation. Bespoke stores and installation are covered across the UK. Contact us for a layout drawing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum spacing between Sheffield stands?
LTN 1/20 Table 11-2 sets 1.0m minimum and 1.2m recommended, centre to centre, for any two-point-locking stand. Allow 2.0m where three-wheeled cycles are provided for (11.4.8). Our standard is 750mm centres, which most cycle-room briefs specify for density; we set out at 1,000mm where the condition requires the LTN figure.
How much room does a bike need in a cycle store?
A 2.0m bay plus a shared aisle of at least 1.8m. At 1.0m Sheffield centres, each bicycle takes about 0.5m of wall. Two-tier racks fit about 5.3 bicycles per metre, more than twice as many.
What ceiling height does a two-tier rack need?
LTN 1/20 requires at least 2.7m (11.4.11). Our two-tier racks need a minimum of 2,500mm, so a ceiling between the two works mechanically but falls below the figure planning officers check against.
How far should a bike stand be from a wall?
LTN 1/20 gives two figures. Para 11.4.6 asks for 0.6m clearance so the bicycle can be locked at two points; Table 11-2 gives the stand-to-wall gap in a bank of stands as 700mm recommended and 500mm minimum, counted as part of the bay width. A layout drawn at 0.6m or more satisfies both.
