Bicycle Parking at Kauffman Stadium

With a new baseball season looming, I was thinking about making a trip into Kansas City to catch a Royals game, but wondered about the logistics of bicycle parking at Kauffman Stadium.

I checked the team’s web site, but their parking page says nothing about bicycles.

So I wrote to the team and asked. Here’s the response I got back from the Royals:

At Kauffman stadium we do not have bike racks or areas where you can lock your bike. With that being said we recommend that you do not bring your bike as there would be no place to securely put your bike.

Frankly, I was a little surprised that they didn’t prohibit bicycles entirely, but they certainly don’t do anything to make it safe or convenient for their cyclist customers.

I followed this up with a phone call to the stadium, and they confirmed that there are no bike racks at Kauffman or anywhere on the sports complex. Although bicycles are not prohibited, any bicycles locked to a tree, fence, railing or other fixture will have their locks cut, and the bike will be impounded. A $10 parking fee applies to get into the sports complex.

There may be parking options nearby, where a cyclist could presumably park their bicycle and then walk to the stadium, but the Royals cannot provide any details about those options, if they exist.

There used to be a bus service called the “Royals Express”, but that has been discontinued.

So, if you want to ride your bike to Kauffman Stadium, your options are pretty limited…

How does this compare to other major league stadiums around the country? Here’s a quick look at the some of the teams that do support their bicycling fans, to varying degrees:

• Chicago White Sox (U.S. Cellular Field): “Bikes racks are located outside U.S. Cellular Field between Gates 2 and 3 and along 35th street near Gate 5.”

• Colorado Rockies (Coors Field): “Bike parking areas are located past the Wynkoop Walkway adjacent to the Wynkoop ticket windows at Gate E, across from Gate B at 22nd and Blake Streets and outside Gate A. In addition, there are a very limited number of spaces on Blake Street between 20th and 21st. Please always park and secure bikes in one of these areas. The Colorado Rockies assume no responsibility in the event that bicycles are lost or stolen. If bikes are attached to any fencing, railing, meter or tree at Coors Field, they may be impounded and/or ticketed.”

• Milwaukee Brewers (Miller Park): “Traveling to Miller Park by bicycle or on foot is easy via the Hank Aaron State Trail. Bike racks are located near the Klement’s Sausage Haus, east of Miller Park, at Helfaer field and the Ballpark Plaza near the Clock Tower.”

• Minnesota Twins (Target Field): “The Minnesota Twins encourage guests to ride their bicycle to Target Field. Bicycle stands are available on the promenade and at various locations around the ballpark. Target Field features hundreds of bike parking spaces. In addition, the city of Minneapolis has hundreds of bike parking spaces within blocks of Target Field.”

• New York Mets (Citi Field): “Guests that wish to use their bicycle as a mode of transportation to Citi Field can utilize any of the 10 bicycle parking racks located outside of the ballpark.”

• New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium): Yankees Add Huge Amount of Bike Parking

• San Diego Padres (Petco Park): “The Bicycle Pavilion will be open and available for all Padres Sunday games. The Bicycle Pavilion, located at Park Boulevard and Tony Gwynn Drive allows fans to park their bicycle in a secured area staffed by a San Diego Padres representative. Bicycle stands are available for use by guests outside the Home Plate, Park Boulevard and Gaslamp Gates.”

• San Francisco Giants (AT&T Park): “Secure bike parking is available on the Portwalk between the viewing portals and the CHW clinic, and is operated by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. The bike parking lot is open two hours prior to the scheduled first pitch until 30 minutes after the game’s final pitch. There is no charge for this service, but a donation can be made. All proceeds benefit the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Employee bike parking is available next to Second and King Street employee entrance by the Players Lot.”

• Seattle Mariners (Safeco Field): Bicyclists have two options for bicycle parking during games. Plaza Bike Racks: Adjacent to the Safeco Field Garage on the exterior plaza. Bike Cage with Racks: To keep your bicycle out of the elements you can use our bike cage located inside the Safeco Field Garage.”

• Toronto Blue Jays (Rogers Centre): “Bicycle stands are available for use by guests outside Rogers Centre near Gates 2, 3, 6, 6A, 9A, 10, 13, 14 and 15. Gas powered vehicles (i.e.: mopeds, and scooters) are not permitted to be parked in these areas.”

• Washington Nationals (Nationals Park): “Bicycles are not permitted inside Nationals Park; however, the Nationals encourage guests to utilize bicycles as an alternative means of transportation. Guests may lock and secure bicycles at several designated locations at Nationals Park, including the FREE Bicycle Valet sponsored by Cycle Life.

It’d be nice if the Royals (and Chiefs) made at least a minimal effort to make their stadiums more bike-friendly.

Sounds like a good opportunity for a “Bike Day at the K”, with folks from community organizations providing a bike corral/valet parking, and some sort of a group ride to navigate the busy streets around the stadiums.

Anyone volunteer to coordinate this with the Royals?

See also: Kansas City Royals Cycling Jersey

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Update, April 2013: The Royals contacted me via their official Twitter account (@Royals) to let me know that the bicycle parking policy has changed at Kauffman Stadium: “Bikes are permitted during Royals games. Ride over to Lot B to lock up your bike on the media fence. No charge. We checked with our parking/fan experience group and that is the current policy.” Thank you, Royals!

Post tags: Bike Racks