Living Car Free - Bicycle Storage Facility Ideas

I am thinking about sending a letter to my college asking for a bicycle storage facility. They are about to start some renovations, so I figure there's no time like the present. In the letter, I would like to ask for the following things:

1) A fenced in area (tall, chainlink), preferably with 2 or 3 walls (i.e. between some buildings)

2) Along the walls, or creating the walls, I'd like to have lockers which could be rented to the students who make use of alternate methods of transportation. These lockers should be the size that could accommodate alternate methods of transportation such as skateboards and rollarblades, and accessories such as helmets, and the front wheel from a bicycle.

3) Lighting - especially for those students who arrive early and leave late

4) Security camera monitoring the area

5) Perhaps a cardlock system or code system to enter the fenced area

6) Banks of bicycle racks within the fenced area where we can lock our bicycles

7) Assurance that the campus security will check on that area periodically throughout the day.


That's all I can think of right now .... can you think of anything else you'd like to have in a bicycle storage facility on a college campus?

I am thinking about sending a letter to my college asking for a bicycle storage facility. They are about to start some renovations, so I figure there's no time like the present. In the letter, I would like to ask for the following things:

1) A fenced in area (tall, chainlink), preferably with 2 or 3 walls (i.e. between some buildings)

2) Along the walls, or creating the walls, I'd like to have lockers which could be rented to the students who make use of alternate methods of transportation. These lockers should be the size that could accommodate alternate methods of transportation such as skateboards and rollarblades, and accessories such as helmets, and the front wheel from a bicycle.

3) Lighting - especially for those students who arrive early and leave late

4) Security camera monitoring the area

5) Perhaps a cardlock system or code system to enter the fenced area

6) Banks of bicycle racks within the fenced area where we can lock our bicycles

7) Assurance that the campus security will check on that area periodically throughout the day.


That's all I can think of right now .... can you think of anything else you'd like to have in a bicycle storage facility on a college campus?

A roof or some kind of cover to protect the bikes from the weather would be nice.

I am thinking about sending a letter to my college asking for a bicycle storage facility. They are about to start some renovations, so I figure there's no time like the present. In the letter, I would like to ask for the following things.....

That's all I can think of right now .... can you think of anything else you'd like to have in a bicycle storage facility on a college campus?

This approach seems too complicated for simple bicycle storage.

At our subway stops there are these rentable bike lockers. Every time I've asked about them I'm told they are fully rented. I don't need one so don't ask to be put on the waiting list. The bike locker protects the bike and is triangular shaped so it has room for other stuff besides the bike. I've never noticed one broken open. Because thieves can't see into the locker they don't know if it is occupied or not unless they observe the biker inserting a bike. Banks of bike lockers could be placed in several places around campus. Rental fees could pay for management and prevent students from camping in them.


I know you asked for additions rather than subtractions from your scheme but if you're going very high up the totem pole with this idea, you might want something simpleminded as a plan B- Bike lockers, rental fees pay their way with maybe some extra money for the decision maker's slush fund.

Machka, do you know what sort of renovations thay are making, maybe they have something set aside for bicycles, or a certain allotment of money for bicycle storage, and the other things that you seek.

Maybe point out to the college how they can make money off of bicycle lockers, like they do off of normal lockers.

Are there a significant amount of cyclists, along with yourself, that would be willing to advocate for some accomadations be made for cyclists, as well as the other stuff you indicated?

I know some details about the renovations (I'm working for the architectural firm in charge of the renovations) and I know that one of the things they are planning to do is to use some of the land that is currently just grass to convert into new parking spots because there is a severe parking shortage and students are parking in the residential areas around which is annoying the residents.

I think my proposal would be for them to consider making the idea of using alternate methods of transportation more friendly. Right now, there are two bicycle racks sitting outside the campus bar ... that's it!! They are never completely full, but I know I opted to drive last year because there was no way I wanted to lock my bicycle to a rack outside the campus bar.

The rest of the renovations consist of either another new wing or a completely separate building. I guess "expansion" would have been a better term than "renovation".

I'd be happy with just a bike rack....

At our subway stops there are these rentable bike lockers.

And a picture ...

http://www.wmata.com/images/bicycle4.jpg

At work I'm lucky to have a bicycle rack located in the corner of a heated garage. I wouldn't want my bike exposed outside all day long to the weather or thiefs.

The campus I work at has 16 unit lockers in 8 locations, all next to dorms. They always have a waiting list and they are for on-campus students only. So far there has been no interest in adding lockers for off-campus students or employees. I'd be happy if they'd just make lockers available to the rest of us. I'd be willing to pay they same price to rent one of those as to rent a parking space for a car.

I think a gated in, card-key access only, bike storage space would be even better because you could fit more bikes in less space than with the lockers. If there are parking garages on your campus a gated in space could be created in the corners (assuming the garages are rectangular) since it is generally difficult to find a way to fit cars into the corners.

Best of luck Machka.

(edit) Ooops, just noticed that Slow Train mentioned garage corners, sorry to be redundant.

I think my proposal would be for them to consider making the idea of using alternate methods of transportation more friendly. Right now, there are two bicycle racks sitting outside the campus bar ... that's it!! They are never completely full, but I know I opted to drive last year because there was no way I wanted to lock my bicycle to a rack outside the campus bar. -Machka

Do you think honestly there is enough of a potential bicycle community exists at your college? Your school reminds me of my old alma mater-a commuting university catering to a serious bus transit center with only a couple of stripped bikes locked to a few racks-that's it! Plus a bunch of old traditional hispanic gangs roaming just outside the campus and you get a big warning not to consider going off campus even walking to a local McDonald's.

Consider the surrounding area and the yearly weather conditions of your college's location. Can there ever be enough interest generated by students and staff to warrent support by the college? That is the key to sucess or not. Not just throwing money at a good intentions or ideas-even though I just love your idea.

Please let us know what happens.

Consider the surrounding area and the yearly weather conditions of your college's location. Can there ever be enough interest generated by students and staff to warrent support by the college? That is the key to sucess or not. Not just throwing money at a good intentions or ideas-even though I just love your idea.

Please let us know what happens.

I'm just thinking that a fenced in area with a security camera, rather than racks in front of the college bar, would be less expensive than the bicycle lockers some have mentioned (I've never seen those before, so I have no idea how much they are), but still offer a slightly greater measure of assurance than what currently exists.

As for the weather conditions of my college's location ... I'm not sure what difference that makes. We ride all year round up here. It just would be nice to have a somewhat more sheltered area (which is why I mentioned tucking it in between buildings so that there are walls on a couple sides) for dismounting and removing packs, etc.

I have no idea how much interest there would be ...... I don't think that has been explored. I personally find it a bit odd that they are willing to jump all over destroying green spaces to build more parking lots because of a perceived parking issue, without doing a survey or something to ask students if they would be willing to make use of alternate methods of transportation.