Bike Lockers

[fisherbikefreak]

Maybe this isn't the place for this idea. Then again, maybe it is.

I know there are many bike commuters among us here on the MORC forums. Nicole Waxmonsky brought up the idea (MORC N. Metro Trails thread and Roseville Issues Forum) of pay-per-use metro transit bike lockers to increase the security of our precious commuter bikes.

Metro-transit currently charges $60 a year to rent a single locker. My thought is to charge the $60 a year and instead of a key they provide a card that gains access to unoccupied lockers throughout the metro instead of only a single locker -- an occupied locker could only be opened by Met Trans officials and the person whose bike occupies the locker at the time. Kind of like cards used to open hotel rooms.

This is just an idea. I don't even know if Metro Transit can or is willing to change their lockers to electronic type locks. I'd like to get some feedback and maybe contact the Met Council with the suggestion.

My other idea is for MORC or cycling groups in general to purchase their own lockers and rent them out in this manner. It could be a neat way to increase funding to these groups.

What are your thoughts?

[fisherbikefreak]

I just realized that I made this a membership only thing. Would you rather a pay-per-use system similar to airport-type lockers where you place your quarters in the locker and it gives you a key?

[jkalla]

I don't use these lockers but I believe the thought is that having a reserved bike locker is akin to having a reserved parking space. For regular users such as commuters it would be a pain to have to search around for an empty locker and if there weren't any - where would you put your bike? Maybe having a portion of the lockers as pay per use would be a good compromise. Does anyone know how many of the lockers are leased out?

[funky-funky-chicken]

I think that there might be some merit in the idea of a membership type service. Though, I do agree Jonathan, it would be a PITA if you paid for a membership and when you arrived at your destination, all of the lockers were occupied. If there were a locker available at my place of employment, the $60 annual fee would be a no-brainer.

Commuting and running errands is hard on a bike... as such, I have designated commuter bikes that I have accepted the fact that they will get scratched and dirty. The same is true with driving a nice car, though I don't have one of those :) If I did have a nice car, I would likely get one of the reserved parking spots in our ramp.

[bike>>rider]

I like having a reserved bike locker that I know will be there for me and where I can store tools and supplies and clothes, etc. I use the bike lockers in the City Center parking ramp. They are more like $100 per year or $60 per 6 months but I'll take it because they are shielded from the elements (being inside the ramp) and maybe a bit more secure. For people that regularly commute, dedicated lockers are preferable, IMO.

[Pandl]

Where I work downtown Mpls, we have access to free parking in the ramp. So, it is secure. Only people with access to the ramp can get there.

If I didn't have this free access, and I had to pay, I would want a guarantee that a space would be available. Like now, biking and riding the bus, I never know if the two spots on the bus will be available.

[Nickel]

I do pay for a bike locker -- On the U of Mn campus.

I would also pay for a pass to lock up my bike at various locations. For instance, I won't bike to the Rosedale Center because there is nothing secure. If they did put in lockers, I do think that there should be a distinction made between commuters or workers (permanent lockers) and temps (only a few hours) like me. If you are biking to work, you should have a permanent spot.

Personally I think until some commuter paths improve, I'm not sure how full the 'temp' spots would become.

[rideharder]

OPTION 1:
what about doing it parking meter style. you put the $ in and get a key and you have X amount of time to do your thing. the key will give you access to get the bike out and when your time is up it opens automaticly so yo dont just leave it there. this way there are controls to make sure you dont cheat the system as well as having a cozy place for expensive bikes.
OPTION 2:
ride a commuter bike that doesnt cost more than $100 to replace if it gets stolen such as a schwinn continental with a coaster brake and a 52-18

[AC/BC]

OPTION 2:
ride a commuter bike that doesnt cost more than $100 to replace if it gets stolen such as a schwinn continental with a coaster brake and a 52-18


This might be the most practical.

[Nickel]

I think OPTION 1 is a good choice....some people may be only able to afford one bike ya know. I'd rather pay a parking meter fee then buy a lock that is just going to get defeated...unless your lock is the same price as the bike ;)

[syntaxjunkie]

For what it's worth, an increasing number of parking ramps in downtown offer (more) secure bike parking. I (and several of my co-workers) park in the Gaviidae underground ramp off of 6th Street. You can get a 6-month contract for $30. The parking attendants see everyone who comes and goes from the ramp, and it's highly unlikely that anyone is going to be able to make off with a bike. To me, that's worth $5 a month.

The ramp is mainatained by Standard Parking, which offers bike parking in a number of other ramps around downtown Minneapolis. Could be the idea is catching on in other parts of the Metro area as well. Definitely worth asking about.

Between the health and fitness benefits, the potential traffic congestion relief, and whatever sense of environmental responsibility they can muster, it'd make an awful lot of sense for employers begin to offer some kind of commuting stipend to give non-motorized commuters additional incentive. I'm curious if anyone out there is aware of companies that have this kind of program.

[wanderingrobots]

this is what i have a u lock for. i dont need a bike storage locker. i would prefer to see the money go to building better commuting routes. just my 2 cents though. thanks, jeff

[bike>>rider]

For what it's worth, an increasing number of parking ramps in downtown offer (more) secure bike parking. I (and several of my co-workers) park in the Gaviidae undergorund ramp off of 6th Street. You can get a 6-month contract for $30. The parking attendants see everyone who comes and goes from the ramp, and it's highly unlikely that anyone is going to be able to make off with a bike. To me, that's worth $5 a month.



Charles,
Is this for an enclosed bike locker or open bike rack?

[syntaxjunkie]

open bike rack, but located in secure underground parking facility.

[Pandl]

That is what mine is at work too, open rack, underground secure ramp. I left my bike there each day for over a week without locking it up, when my lock disappeared.

[Nickel]

Cost, cost...I e-mailed the transportation people at the U about the cost of bike lockers:


>>>>
The lockers are pretty expensive. If you buy small quantities - fewer than
6, say - it's about $1500 per space(Cycle Safe lockers). The more you buy
the cheaper they get. We bought 134 once, and it was still about $1000 per
space. They can be maintained for about $15 per space per year. There are
cheaper alternatives - we use American Bicycle Security lockers in some of
our parking ramps at about $600 per space - but the Cycle Safes withstand
the elements well.
>>>

I haven't seen the cheaper lockers before so i'm not sure what the differences are. I suppose there would have to be a lot of demand before Metro Transit came up with the pay-per-use?

[justanotherkiwi]

I would be happy with just a general increase in bike racks around the city. I'm sick of biking to the post office or grocery store and not being able to find something decent to lock up to.

[Nickel]

An update because I wasn't sure if anyone contacted Metro Transit directly:


<tt><tt>Of all of the lockers that we have available to the public about ½ are
rented. We had considered asking to have lockers available "per diem"
but we do not have the resources at this time to maintain these types
of
lockers or collect revenues, I wish we did.

The rental fees to maintain a locker rental at one of our locations
amounts to about $5 a month (plus a refundable $25 deposit) which has
not changed since the inception of the program. The idea was to set the
price low enough that people could afford to rental them even if they
didn't use them everyday.

I will forward your comments on to the Bike committee who will be
reviewing our biking program for next season. </tt></tt>