bike lockers?
 

I'v seen them in big city's! Basicly, they're giant lockers where you can park your bike, and not have to worry about people taking things off your bike(seat, wheels, water bottles) I'v seen them in Montrael, Boston, Toronto, and even Rochester which I know is not a big city. All the rider needs is a small combo lock, to lock the door of the locker. I'd much rather park my bike in there, than lock it to a pole or mail box!!!!!!!:beer:

Yeah, I've seen those things, too, but they are small!! Most flat-bar bikes are too wide for the ones that I've seen, and even my touring bike (62cm Cannondale) is too tall to fit one! The only bike I have that fits one of these things is my classic lightweight, and I'm not going to commute on that everyday!!!

We have them at just about every train station in Perth.

That's a nice looking logo, MediaCreations! ;)

Great idea.

In theory it sounds good.

Here's my fears:

1) People will hog the lockers and even when they take the bike out, they'll leave their locks on, and you'll never find an open one.

2) People will use them for long term storage, and you won't be able to get into one.

3) How safe they actually are- what's to say someone CAN'T break into one of those lockers, and once in, they can't just roll your bike out and keep on going?

They look like they'd be a great idea, but so many people cycle in the summer here in Chicago, I don't see how it would work.

Add in the fact that they don't look very good- they removed the bike racks on the south side of my building because they thought it took away from the beauty of the building and put in flowerbeds instead. I can't see Chicago springing for these lockers. Too much vanity... :(

Any solutions to these problems? How do you police the lockers so that people aren't taking advantage or storing other stuff in it, or trying to use them for long term storage use (i.e. in the winter, when they don't ride, they just lock it in there all winter, and I still can't get a locker)? How can you still lock your bikes to something while it's in the locker so on the off chance that someone breaks in, it's not that easy for them to take your bike still?

I think it's a great idea for some cities, though. I really wish we could do something like this in Chicago. Really.

Koff

I hope people don't use them like they did with my wife's old apartment ouside storage rooms. Hers was unlocked and used as a restroom. :eek: :o

The company I work for just started talking about bike lockers. I am not a big fan of the idea since I like seeing my bike in my cube. Plus I can tinker with it when I'm bored.

Actually, you rent them by the month.............

I think you're the first one to notice.:D

The lockers near the train stations are free. You just put your bike in and put on the lock.

Locks left on the lockers without bikes will be removed.

So, how do they know when there is a bike in the locker? Wouldn't they have to break the lock in order to see if a bike is in there?

If not, I don't like the way anyone can just look in at your bike. That sucks. I like my privacy, but then again, I'm spoiled. When I lock up my bike at night, it's in a locked room. No one can see in, so I feel a little safer.

Koff

I've never actually had need to use the lockers so I'm no expert but if you click on this link you should get all the details.

I see it, and the bigger picture helps, but I still am not sure how they can tell a bike is in the locker or not. Do you have a link for the company that makes the lockers so I can get more details on it? Aslo, is there a time limit for how long you can store your bike in the locker?

Koff

I don't know about a time limit but if you look at the picture above you'll see that there is a wire grate above the doors. I guess they can peer in to the locker and see the bike without actually being able to do anything to it.

Ok, that helps. So those lockers are not that tall. Somehow, I got the feeling it was a really tall locker you can stand in or something.

Do you know the name of the lockers so I can do a google search for the company?

Koff

No - but if you email Sandra Rogers she should be able to help. She's the project manager and her email address is on the site I've linked to above. Hope that helps.

Cool- thanks for the info.

Koff

I live in the Washington DC metro area, and the local metro rail (subway) system has bike lockers available to rent on an annual basis (http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/bikeracks.cfm). You fill out a contract and pay for the year in advance (only $70 US + $10 key deposit). Then, they send you a key to your own locker. Most Metro stations have a waiting list to get lockers, but I recently filled-out my contract for a locker at the metro station I use and I'm waiting for my key to arrive.

I think the locker will be safer than the bike racks they have at the stations and I plan to lock my bike up inside the locker so no one can easily roll it away.

As soon as I get the key, I'm going to be commuting 5-days a week, instead of just Fridays....because, by using the metro rail part way, my round trip will drop from 50 to 20 miles (much more reasonable for me). No more parking hassles at the metro station. I CAN'T WAIT!

I'll let you know how it works out after I've made a few commutes...and hopefully I'll still have a bike...

--D

Where in Montreal have you seen them? I have never spotted one around the city. I'd be interested to look at them more closely.

Outside a hotel, its the very old kind, prolly the first ever made. The locker its self is just a cage with a door. Theres maybe 2 or 3 next to each other. I dont know the name of the hotel, it is a few blocks away from the Crown Plaza Hotel near downtown. Very cool city I might add, I wish I lived there.:beer:

We have these at some or our trolly/bus stations. The locker is secured so only your electronic key will allow access. I would use one if I needed it. I have a great boss that provides a storage closet for my bike.

http://www.ridelink.org/bicycle.html

There are some at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital here. Basically you register for one and it's your to use as long as you work there. At Chester bus station, they have bike lockers too. Those ones have a lock that means the local council can open them, without breaking the user's lock, to check out what's inside. Right now I'm trying to get some out in at the Health Centre where I wok here in Liverpool, cos there's several of us bike to work.

Ah, San Diego.... I love that city.

It'll be nice to know they are so bike friendly when I decide to finally move there for good.

I have a locker at the commuter rail station near work (Sorrento Valley, in the northern part of the city of San Diego). Being able to bring a bike on the train, being able to park one indoors at work, having a bike locker at the train station, and living within cycling distance of work (15mi/25km) gives me a great deal of car-free commuting flexibility.

And you're not afraid someone will break the locker open and steal your bike? Is it that secure? Is there a place for you to lock your bike to inside the locker in the event that someone manages to open the locker somehow?

Sadly nothing's that secure. I've has a bike nicked from inside my locked, alarmed garage. I've known thieves cut off railings to which several bikes were chained and take the lot, railings and bikes, away in a van to deal with at leisure later. I suppose it's just a balance of risk and benefit. And as cyclists we're supposed to be good at balance...