It was a good idea that just didn’t work out, so the two or three bike lockers that were set up at the Haney bus exchange and the two installed in Memorial Peace Park were pulled out of service in 2015 because of lack of demand.
But when the big B-Line rolls into Maple Ridge in September 2019 and provides speedy access to SkyTrain, there could be more demand for bicycle parking.
Besides, the horizontal lockers that provided a safe, dry place for two wheels, proved too tempting for other purposes.
Maple Ridge parks and facilities director David Boag said two sets of lockers, containing two compartments each, were installed in the south part of Memorial Peace Park several years ago, but they weren’t used much and were removed in 2015.
The compartments were lockable so that people could put on their own locks, park their bikes, then do any downtown errands or catch the bus, then return in the evening.
“But it turned out not to work that way.”
People weren’t using them for storing bikes and instead started to use them for storing personal items. Or sometimes people’s locks were being removed. He wasn’t aware of people actually living in them.
Bike lockers were also set up at the Haney bus loop, but were removed by TransLink, as well.
The city now hopes that cyclists who want to have somewhere to store their bikes safely while they jump on to transit will make their views known while TransLink is doing its public consultation on its area transport plan.
TransLink is currently seeking public input and has three sessions set up where people can give their views on what they want to see for transit, cycling and walking over the next decade.
“Our hope is that citizens will engage with TransLink’s public consultation on the B-Line and area transport plan relating to cycling, so that TransLink can identify if there is a need for enhanced park-and-ride-type storage for cyclists who would access the B-Line at the various stops along the proposed route,” Boag said.
Ineke Boekhorst, with the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association, said the bike lockers were never used for the intended purpose, perhaps because people weren’t aware, but such lockers could be more accepted now.
She adds that TransLink should also provide large, open bike parking areas that are well signed and large enough to accommodate large numbers of bicycles. That provides safety in numbers.
“It needs to be a clear space where people would want to lock their bikes.”
Such areas should be established at both the Haney bus loop and the Port Haney West Coast Express station.
Large bike parking areas are often provided in European transit locations.
Jackie Chow, with the cycling group Hub Maple Ridge, also wants the bike lockers to be returned.
