card-activated bike lockers
similar to this one in
downtown Vancouver, WA.
(Photo © J. Maus)
TriMet is counting on about $60 million in federal cash as part of the stimulus bill. That slice of money cannot go to operations and must be spent on transit infrastructure and preventative maintenance projects.
TriMet’s list of projects under consideration for that funding currently totals about $127 million. To help Uncle Sam make up his mind about where to put the money, TriMet is encouraging folks to make public comments in support of projects they care about.
On that list is a project titled, Bike Parking Improvements. According to TriMet, the money would go toward:
Replacement of existing deteriorating bike lockers, and construction of up to six bike stations (secure, covered, high capacity bike parking facilities).
I am not a huge fan of bike lockers (they seem over-engineered and more complicated/expensive than necessary), but the bike station mention is interesting. I contacted TriMet’s bike program czar Colin Maher to find out more.
Maher said, “Our top priority is to replace our oldest bike lockers. Additional funding would be used to build bike cages at up to six transit centers throughout the region with parking for up to 120 bikes at each.”
(Photo: by k a t m on Flickr)
Also according to Maher, these new bike cages would be designed with theft-prevention in mind by using lockable gates with card readers and security cameras. The design, he said, would be similar to recently installed bike cages used on Boston’s MBTA line.
If you want to weigh in and speak up in support of this project and the importance of bike parking and bike-transit connections, here’s a link to the comment form. Comments must be submitted by 9 a.m. on Friday, February 20.