Spring Cleaning

Bike Storage Edition for Co-op and Condo Buildings

As the weather starts to warm up, many people are getting ready to bring out their bikes for the season. For those living in co-op and condo buildings, this can pose a challenge when it comes to storing their bicycle, unless the building has a proper bike storage space. Although CitiBikes are the preferred choice for team Folson Group, it is not for everyone. Adding a bike storage room creates an extra amenity that increases property values.

Keeping the bike storage space clean and organized is crucial as dust and loose materials create a fire hazard. Spring is a great time for co-op and condo boards with a dedicated bike storage space to do a spring cleaning. With limited storage space and fire safety concerns, it's important to find safe and organized ways to store your bike. Here are our top tips to help NYC co-op and condo boards do just that:

1. Clean out old bikes: Old bikes that are no longer being used can take up valuable storage space and even become a fire hazard. Take the time to clean out any old and abandoned bikes and donate them to a local charity. Ask your property manager and super to help organize this effort and communicate with owners.

2. Use designated bike storage areas: Leaving your bike in hallways or stairwells is against FDNY codes. Use designated storage areas to prevent obstructions in common areas and avoid fines.

3. Install bike racks or hooks: Bike racks or hooks can help keep your bike off the ground and it can also create more bike storage space so that everyone can get a space to store their bike. Make sure they are securely fastened and can hold the weight of the bike.

4. Label bikes: Your super can keep a labeling system to keep track of which bike belongs to whom.

5. Charge a small fee: Consider charging a small annual fee for bike storage is highly advisable as even if it doesn’t sound like a lot of money. Benefits of charging a fee is not only that it adds up, but also that is a leverage for board for those who are frequently late with paying their maintenance fees. It will also nudge those who still keep little Danny’s first bike in the basement even though he is now in law school.

6. Recommended fee: It is not uncommon that NYC buildings charge an annual fee of $100 per bike. This can add up over time and provide a valuable source of income for the building.

7. Communicate with residents: Whether the board makes a change to the house rules, installs bike storage, changes the bike storage from free to paid, or performs an annual spring cleaning to eliminate abandoned bikes, good communication with residents is very important and helps make the difference of a co-op or condo board and building being a great one or not so much.

Proper bike storage is a valuable amenity for many New York City residents, especially in today’s more bike friendly streets. By cleaning out old dusty or abandoned bikes, installing secure bike racks or hooks, and educating residents about bike storage safety, you can help ensure that everyone in your building stays safe and organized during bike season. So, this spring, take the time to give your building's bike storage a good cleaning and make sure that it's ready for the upcoming season.

For resources on how to nominate yourself to your board, individually or as a group, grab a download of the first chapter of Tina Larsson’s book Living the High Life, How smart co-op and condo owners protect themselves and their investment. You can get the paperback or Kindle on Amazon.