Better bike parking solutions.

[Gazza]

So this is something I'm thinking more deeply about, how to get more people cycling to the station, in a means that requires the least amount of mucking about.

We have a few solutions, but they all have issues.

-Bike Lockers: No casual use, requires a deposit and booking in blocks of 3 (?) Months.

-Bike cages: Again, has barriers to casual use because pre registration is required. These facilities are few and far between at present.

-Casual racks: Easy to use for casuals, but there are security risks with having your bike in the open all day. Even if it's locked up, it still can be vandalised. Unfortunatley, we aren't like the Netherlands just yet, and we lack the cycling culture where people respect each others property.

Here are a couple of options that could make it work better for everyone:

-Electronic lockers. Basically, it would be like the electronic lockers seen at theme parks, tourist attractions, swimming pools etc, but enlarged compartments (one bike per compartment). You would use your go card to activate the all day rental and opens a locker, and presenting the same go card at the end of the day allows you to unlock the same locker, all controlled via a central terminal.

-U Bolt compatible lockers.
http://www.cyclesafe.com/options.tab.aspx

I quite like this as a solution as it means cyclists can use what they already have (Many have U bolts these days). The locker would be redesigned with a small window of viewing mesh, so staff could ensure people aren't just putting locks around doors as a form of mischief. Whist this is more expensive and space intensive than regular bike racks, cyclists can have peace of mind knowing their bike is untouchable, and this is what generates use.
It also means they can be put in locations such as suburban bus stops, since they don't require staff to administer.

I think it would be worth it for QR to perhaps trial this type of bike locker at a busy station, and see how quickly people start adopting them. If it becomes that demand exceeds supply, then just keep building more at each station. Unlike expanding park and rides, expanding bike lockers is a virtuous cycle.

[Mr X]

Bike lockers also don't cost $40K a pop 

[Gazza]

^Exactly. 

BART actually has an electronic locker system. Again, it uses a smart card (Which I think is not the same as their regular PT card), and charges 3c an hour.
http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2008/01/transit-agency-to-offer-electronic-bike.html

Still, I reckon the simplicty of user supplied U bolt locks wins out.

[Fares_Fair]

What is wrong with the existing bike lockers (2 bikes per box with locked door each end) we have ?
I have been using one for nearly 7 years now.
They're great.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Gazza]

What is wrong with the existing bike lockers (2 bikes per box with locked door each end) we have ?
I have been using one for nearly 7 years now.

I addressed  in my first post:

No casual use, requires a deposit and booking in blocks of 3 (?) Months.

I'm not saying its a 'bad' solution, because its better than any other means of getting people to the station (Barring say walking). but one issue is that each locker can only be used by one person, which locks out other potential users, unless of course, more get built.

What I'm advocating for is that a bank of several are provided, which are locked by the users own U bolt.

This allows for higher turnover of each locker, eg it might get used on weekends by other people, whereas a normal bike locker sits idle if its owner is a weekday commuter.
No need for QR to have someone administrating these either.

[Fares_Fair]

So this is something I'm thinking more deeply about, how to get more people cycling to the station, in a means that requires the least amount of mucking about.

We have a few solutions, but they all have issues.

-Bike Lockers: No casual use, requires a deposit and booking in blocks of 3 (?) Months.

True, the deposit is $50.00 and is returned to the user upon return of the key, unless the key gets lost in which case it is forfeited.
Renewal can be done online now and is every 3 months.
I do not see either of these points as an 'issue' per se.

For casual users it would be an issue.

Are you advocating paying for the bike lockers, you mention all day rental ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Gazza]

For casual users it would be an issue.

That's the thing though.
Unless the bike locker is being used 7 days a week by the users, then that is spare capacity that is being wasted.
By having some for casual use, it opens them to uni students who might only travel a few days a week, part time workers etc. It could well be a different person uses a locker each day!

Are you advocating paying for the bike lockers, you mention all day rental ?

Nah I wouldn't charge. What other word was I supposed to use to describe the act of having it for the day?
I didn't mean to imply a charge. BART charges 3c an hour, but it seems pointless to collect such a small amount, why even bother?

Of course, if the U bolt lock solution were sought, then that is free no matter what.

Just to clarify now too. I'm not saying existing locker users should be kicked out and their ones turned over to the public.
Rather, additional lockers would be built that allow for casual use.

[#Metro]

Some people will use the locker as free storage space for household items etc. There needs to be some way to prevent this.

[Gazza]

^Did you read the OP?

The locker would be redesigned with a small window of viewing mesh

[Fares_Fair]

Some people will use the locker as free storage space for household items etc. There needs to be some way to prevent this.

Gazza has addressed that point in his post.
In reality, I really cannot see that as being a significant or statistically relevant problem.
AFAIA it has not occurred with the existing bike lockers.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Golliwog]

Plus, storing things like household items in them also has issues in that the current lockers are not water tight at the bottom. The one I had for a while at Park Rd had had a whole bunch of dirt and leaves washed into it the last time it had rained. When the station attendant showed me to the locker the first time and he saw it, he did ofter to have it cleaned out, but I didn't see the point, it's only a bike.

[Fares_Fair]

There's a 5cm gap at the bottom of our station's lockers, where rain and leaves and rubbish can flow and blow through.
And that's perfectly ok as Golli points out above.

Regards,
Fares-Fair.