Bikes, bikes, bikes

[raisethehammer]

I can't believe there is no thread for the greatest ever invention in personal transport - the bicycle.

Well, there is now.

To start things off, some absolutely sweet bike racks in Toronto.
Let's get these bad boys in Hamilton!
Anyone know someone in that cycling committee??

http://www.jamesstreetnorth.ca/blog/?p=207

[1ajs]

i love my bycle anyhow
• Video Link

[SteelTown]

Park your bike downtown, worry-free

June 05, 2008
The Hamilton Spectator

Commuters now have a safe haven from bike thieves.

The city will unveil Hamilton's first secure bicycle parking facility downtown today.

The lot, which can hold 40 bikes, was paid for by funding from Metrolinx. The facility is on the first floor of the York Boulevard parkade. Users must buy a $40 permit.

A second bicycle lot is in the works for the Convention Centre. It is expected to open by late summer.

Metrolinx has given $160,000 to Hamilton for bike-related initiatives, including bike racks on all city buses.

The new facility will open today at noon following a short event as part of Commuter Challenge week.

Tomorrow is national ride your bike to work day. For more information on the week's biking events visit commuterchallenge.ca

[raisethehammer]

I saw this last weekend at the parkade. I wasn't sure what it was...looks more like a maintenance storage cage.
At any rate, good news. I know I can't get ahead of myself and expect top notch bike facilities like you see in Europe. The fact that we're getting two (even if they look like maintenance cages) is a good step forward.

[SteelTown]

They are the same at McMaster. A grey box with a lock.

[FairHamilton]

A good start, though I'm a little disappointed in the price point. I think that will be a big limiter to wide scale adoption.

Perhaps it will appeal more to people riding to work during the week then someone like me who would mostly ride to the Farmer's Market on Saturdays. At a cost of $40 x 2 for securing our bikes, my wife and I may as well stick with our HSR passes........

[SteelTown]

I think these bike storage is more for people that work in the downtown core (more specifically City Centre and City Hall) that commute by bike.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

The lot, which can hold 40 bikes, was paid for by funding from Metrolinx. The facility is on the first floor of the York Boulevard parkade. Users must buy a $40 permit.

As a bike lover, this sounds like a promising start, anyway. Is that an annual permit?

Would anyone be willing to swing by and take a photo or two of the facility for the benefit of ex-Hamiltonians like me?

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

I think these bike storage is more for people that work in the downtown core (more specifically City Centre and City Hall) that commute by bike.

Yes, I agree. Unfortunately that means the bike storage will sit empty weekends when all the recreational riders are on the streets.

It's not going to promote people coming downtown by bike for recreational pursuits, i.e. Farmer's Market, lunch at a cafe, shopping, etc., and that's a crime.

[Gurnett71]

Another press release: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../05/c8832.html

Cycling to Downtown Hamilton just got easier
City of Hamilton and Metrolinx open the city's first secure bicycle
parking facility

HAMILTON, ON, June 5 /CNW/ - As part of an ongoing commitment to promote
sustainable transportation options in Hamilton, the Public Works Department,
together with Metrolinx, officially opened Hamilton's first secure bicycle
parking facility today. Mayor Eisenberger, Councillors Bratina and McHattie,
Public Works General Manager Scott Stewart and representatives from the SmartCommute Initiative were joined by City staff and cycling enthusiasts at the event today.
The 12-foot by 20-foot lot located on the first floor of the York
Boulevard parkade downtown can accommodate over 40 bicycles and provides a safe and convenient facility for cycling commuters to store their bikes.
Opening this new bicycle parking facility is a great step in the right
direction for a cleaner and greener Hamilton," said Mayor Fred Eisenberger.
"It is another way to encourage Hamiltonians to make transportation choices
that are sustainable and healthy. I'm confident this new facility will be used
and enjoyed by many of our own City staff, as well as other downtown
businesses, Farmer's Market and Central Public Library customers."
A second bicycle parking facility is being planned for the Convention
Centre parking lot. It is expected to be open for public use by late summer
2008. Based on a preliminary review of land uses and cycling infrastructure,
it is anticipated that other secure bike parking facilities will be most
beneficial at transit hubs, shopping centres, educational facilities and
employment centres.
"We've been proactive in promoting sustainable transportation options in
Hamilton by installing bicycle racks on all our buses, enhancing and expanding
bicycle lanes on city streets, purchasing new hybrid buses to add to our
growing transit fleet and actively exploring rapid transit options for
Hamilton," said Scott Stewart, General Manager of Hamilton's Public Works
Department. "We've been very fortunate to have received funding from Metrolinx
to help bring these sustainable ideas to reality."
The City of Hamilton received over $160,000 in funding from Metrolinx to
be used to provide secure bicycle parking as part of the Metrolinx Bikelinx
program. Other Metrolinx funding dollars were used to install more bicycle
racks on city buses.
"At Metrolinx, we believe that active transportation is the most
sustainable way to get around," said Chair Rob MacIsaac. "By getting more
people to cycle, we are promoting a cleaner environment, a healthier
population, and more efficient use of expensive public infrastructure."
The new parking facility is now open for public use. Permits can be
purchased for $40 for the remainder of 2008. Cyclists can purchase a permit by calling 905-546-2424, ext. 1473.
The new facility appropriately opens to the public during National
Commuter Challenge week, just in time for National 'Bike to Work Day'
tomorrow.

[flar]

They could really encourage cycling if you could just give the parking attendant a loonie to park your bike whenever you want without having to call and buy a permit.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by flar

They could really encourage cycling if you could just give the parking attendant a loonie to park your bike whenever you want without having to call and buy a permit.

Great idea. And you wouldn't have to wait for the permit to arrive in the mail.

That would open the system to many more occasional, and recreational bicyclists, especially on weekends when I expect the lot will be pretty much empty for much of the day.

One thing I haven't seen is any mention of the hours of operation.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by FairHamilton

One thing I haven't seen is any mention of the hours of operation.

Use it whenever, it’s like a storage locker at recreational centres. You get a key and that's it. There's no person patrolling it.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Use it whenever, it’s like a storage locker at recreational centres. You get a key and that's it. There's no person patrolling it.

So let me make sure I understand correctly, it's just a fenced locked area that anyone with $40 gets a key?

I'm going to have to check this thing out myself. I just can't seem to visualize it properly.

[SteelTown]

I think I have a picture of the bike storage somewhere on my computer.

Just picture a grey plastic box that has a key slot. You roll your bike inside and lock the door.

[block43]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

I think I have a picture of the bike storage somewhere on my computer.

Just picture a grey plastic box that has a key slot. You roll your bike inside and lock the door.

This one is different....looks more like a chainlink cage.

[raisethehammer]

yea, like an old WWF cagematch.

[SteelTown]

The bike storage was on CH News. It's a cage and you hang your bike up from the front wheel. They should build one of these at the GO Station as well. Once the new downtown transit terminal is built they should do the same.

[matt602]

There's already a ton of bike lock things at the GO station under video surveillance that don't really seem to get used too often.

[FairHamilton]

Yeah, from the article I was picturing a caged area. What I am struggling to visualize is how it will be secured.

SteelTown,

I know the ones you are talking about they have them at Metro Hall in Toronto.