Public Commuter Bicycle Station

Posted Tue, 2010-01-12 09:38 by jtackett

As a bike commuter, I am always on the lookout for stories on how other cities around the country adapt to the growing number of bike commuters. I ran across this story and thought it would be good to share.

With all the empty buildings in downtown Atlanta, this would be a great concept. Especially in the Underground Atlanta area, with plenty of empty storefronts.

Would you as a bike commuter pay a membership fee to have access to such a facility?
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(Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)tracking By Phil Sutin, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Jan. 10--Federal stimulus money may pay for downtown St. Louis's first public commuter bicycle station.

St. Louis would use $225,000 of federal energy conservation economic stimulus money for the station on the first floor of the rehabilitated Farm and Home Building at 11th and Locust Street.

The station would have public showers, lockers and places to store bicycles. A bike repair shop would be nearby. Users would pay a membership fee. Officials hope to lure 100 people initially.

Comments

by Kyle - 2010-01-14 09:39

I'm torn.

I paid $21 monthly for gym access through my former employer, which granted me use of all facilities, including the shower. I kept a week's worth of clothes rolled and folded in the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet. I parked my ride beneath the Georgia State University library, the largest bike rack on campus and arguably most secure. This was OK by me; it worked for me.

For the shower, secure bicycle parking, a locker (extra cost at GSU) and bicycle shop, yeah, I might go for it. It would depend on the cost, over duplication of services. The big thing would be community; it seems it would almost be like a club, a bicyclist Elks lodge. I might pay to belong to a bicycles-members-only club like that!

by ha1ku - 2010-01-12 22:30

I would, and personally I think these facilities might be best when member-supported. With the economy hurting, the government is stretched beyond its limits to fully fund this sort of thing.