Bicycle parking is a critical part of the City of Hoboken’s overall transportation infrastructure. Providing abundant, secure bike parking is a simple and affordable way to encourage residents and visitors to ride a bicycle in Hoboken. As of May 2021, Hoboken has 409 bike parking facilities (i.e. racks and corrals), which have the capacity to park 1,764 bicycles. However, the amount of bike parking in Hoboken remains inadequate to meet demand.
The City of Hoboken is therefore actively working towards a goal of increasing citywide bike parking capacity by 20% by the end of 2021. Hoboken is prioritizing bike parking to complement the City’s Complete Streets Design Guide and its commitment to Vision Zero. Coupled with the City’s expanding bicycle lane network and the recent addition of Citi Bike bike share, ample bike parking will help build and supplement the growing cycling culture in Hoboken. Further, citywide bike parking facilities must be able to accommodate the recent surge in the numbers of people buying and using bicycles in Hoboken due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bicycle parking is a critical part of the City of Hoboken’s overall transportation infrastructure. Providing abundant, secure bike parking is a simple and affordable way to encourage residents and visitors to ride a bicycle in Hoboken. As of May 2021, Hoboken has 409 bike parking facilities (i.e. racks and corrals), which have the capacity to park 1,764 bicycles. However, the amount of bike parking in Hoboken remains inadequate to meet demand.
The City of Hoboken is therefore actively working towards a goal of increasing citywide bike parking capacity by 20% by the end of 2021. Hoboken is prioritizing bike parking to complement the City’s Complete Streets Design Guide and its commitment to Vision Zero. Coupled with the City’s expanding bicycle lane network and the recent addition of Citi Bike bike share, ample bike parking will help build and supplement the growing cycling culture in Hoboken. Further, citywide bike parking facilities must be able to accommodate the recent surge in the numbers of people buying and using bicycles in Hoboken due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following map illustrates the locations of the existing bicycle parking facilities within the City of Hoboken as of May 2021. The full, interactive version of this map which includes rack locations, types, capacities, and conditions as of May 2021 can be found here.
To suggest a location for a new bike rack or corral, please complete this form. If you'd like to suggest multiple locations, please resubmit the form for each location.
There are many different styles of bicycle racks throughout the City of Hoboken, most of which can be seen here. Some of the most popular types of racks include the Inverted U, the Post & Ring, and the Wave racks. The City also plans to install new Varsity racks at priority locations around Hoboken. This popular and award-winning rack design allows for three points of contact with the bike, which ensures stability and security while controlling the bike footprint. The wheel-troughs cradle bicycle tires and keep bike parking orderly by preventing bikes from falling over. A short video about the Varsity bike dock can be seen here.
According to Transportation Alternatives, there are two tiers of bicycle parking: class 1 and class 2. In Hoboken, nearly all public bicycle parking is Class 2.
Class 1 Bicycle Parking is protected from the elements and secure for both overnight and long-term storage. It is typically limited to paying customers of a parking garage, residents of an apartment building, employees at an office building, or students at a school.
Class 2 Bicycle Parking is unprotected from the elements and less secure than class 1. It is typically outdoors, open to the public, and best suited for short term use by customers, messengers, and visitors.
The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals provides the following performance criteria for selecting bicycle parking racks:
Corrals are an efficient and effective solution to street-space scarcity. Bike corrals are in-street bicycle parking areas that provide benefits to all street users. For cyclists, corrals increase the quantity and accessibility of bike parking and improve overall visibility of biking. Bike corrals improve pedestrian safety by physically restricting cars from being parked within 25' no parking zones adjacent to crosswalks, thereby improving sight lines between drivers and pedestrians as they enter the crosswalk. Drivers, too, benefit because corrals improve visibility and safety at intersections by physically eliminating cars from parking too close to intersections. Businesses receive the benefit of converting underutilized street space into parking for 10 customers arriving by bicycle.
The City has created a trust fund for the collection of sponsorships intended to increase bicycle parking/infrastructure throughout Hoboken. Please note that you are sponsoring a public bike rack/corral located on public property that will be available for bike parking use to the general public. The duration of all sponsorships will be for the useful life of the bike rack/corral (approximately 5-10 years). We will notify you of the installation and will include sponsorship credit in the form of an engraved plaque on or adjacent to the bike rack/corral. Thank you very much for your generosity – your sponsorship makes a difference!
If you're a business owner or lead a civic group and you would like to sponsor a public bicycle corral or bicycle rack, please complete and return this form. Corral sponsorship is $795, including installation, and the corrals can hold 10 bikes. Bicycle rack sponsorship costs range from $200-$350, including installation. Bicycle racks are currently available in two styles as indicated on the form and can park two bikes.
Send or bring completed applications and checks to:
City of Hoboken Director of Transportation & Parking, 94 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030
Article XXXIII: Bicycle Operation and Parking of the City’s Municipal Code details all of the rules and regulations surrounding bike parking in Hoboken. The key guidelines include the following:
Where to Park a Bicycle:
Where NOT to Park a Bicycle:
Bicycles can be locked to bike racks in Hoboken for up to 7 consecutive days without being utilized. After 7 days, a bicycle may be deemed abandoned and can be removed and disposed of if not moved in a timely manner
Follow these tips to ensure that your bike is locked safely and securely. This video from Kryptonite Locks also provides a quick and easy tutorial on how to secure your bike and ensure its safety.
1. Always lock your bike when it is unattended, even if you are indoors or only leaving it for a minute. Most stolen bikes are not locked up.
2. Always lock your bike to a solid object and double check to make sure your lock is closed. Signs may be loose. Railings may be broken. Trees may be cut (and repeated locking to trees harms them). Be sure that what you’re locking to is secured to the ground.
3. Use a U-Lock, Hardened Steel Chain Lock or a Folding Lock, which are stronger and harder to break than cables and chains.
4. Lock up in a visible location. Thieves don't like to operate where they can be seen. Park your bike in an area with more pedestrian traffic to deter thieves.
5. Do not leave anything on your bike that can be easily removed. For bicycles with quick-release wheels, lock both wheels and the frame to the rack. Remove easily detached items, such as packs, pumps, lights, and clip on fenders before leaving a bicycle unattended.
To ensure your bike is safe, lock your bike frame and both wheels. You can do this multiple ways, as depicted here.
How do I request a bike rack or corral? If you're a business owner or lead a civic group and you would like to sponsor a public bicycle rack or corral, please complete and return this form. Send or bring completed applications and checks to:
City of Hoboken Director of Transportation & Parking, 94 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030
How do I suggest a new bike rack or corral location? Please complete this survey in order to suggest a new location for public bicycle parking. If you'd like to suggest multiple locations, please resubmit the survey for each location.
How do I report a damaged or broken bike rack? To report a damaged or broken bike rack, please submit a ticket through Hoboken 311. Click here and select BIKES → Bike Rack/Repair Station. You can then provide a detailed description and location of the damaged or broken bike rack.
How do I report an abandoned bike? To report an abandoned bike, please submit a ticket through Hoboken 311. Click here and select BIKES → Abandoned Bike. You can then provide a detailed description and location of the abandoned bike.
How do I report a bike that’s locked to a tree? Locking a bicycle to a tree is illegal in Hoboken since it can cause harm to the tree. Additionally, a tree is not a secure place to park a bike. To report a bike that’s locked to a tree, please submit a ticket through Hoboken 311. Click here and select Streets, Sidewalks, and Street Trees → Trees on Sidewalks. You can then provide a detailed description and location of the bike that is incorrectly locked to a tree.
Whose responsibility is it to maintain the bike corrals? Bicycle corral facilities will be installed by the City of Hoboken Department of Transportation & Parking. However, the City of Hoboken will not maintain the facility. The corral sponsor enters a maintenance agreement with the City of Hoboken and agrees to abide by the duties and responsibilities outlined on page 2 of this form.
How do I report a stolen bicycle? To report a stolen bicycle, please contact the Hoboken Police Department non-emergency number at (201) 420-2100.
Sponsor a Bicycle Rack or Corral in Hoboken
Suggest a Bicycle Rack Location in Hoboken
“Article XXXIII: Bicycle Operation and Parking” of the Hoboken Municipal Code
Hoboken Complete Streets Design Guide
“The Power of Bicycle Parking” report by Transportation Alternatives
“Essentials of Bike Parking” guide by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
