Theft-proof bike racks could roll in by spring

By Paul Moloney

A proposal for a bicycle storage facility near Union Station is expected to be popular with riders who don't want to see their expensive wheels stolen.

The 200-bike facility, with swipe-card access for users, would be located in the York St. rail underpass and could be open for business as early as May.

"We can't meet the demand there now," said Councillor Adrian Heaps, chair of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee.

"People are locking their bikes to trees, posts, stop signs, other bicycles."

That's not very secure if you're riding a bike worth $2,000, said Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, who rides 23 kilometres daily to city hall from Eglinton Ave. and McCowan Rd.

People are now riding $300 "beaters" to avoid theft, De Baeremaeker said.

"Two things discourage people from cycling in Toronto: One is feeling safe on the road, the second is you don't want your bike to get stolen.

"Anybody can snip a lock and take off with your $1,000 or $500 bike."

De Baeremaeker said he could envision commuters from Etobicoke and Scarborough leaving their cars at home and cycling downtown along the waterfront's Martin Goodman Trail if the bike storage facility proposal becomes a reality this spring.

"Just to have a place to put your bike is fabulous," he said.

"The day it opens, I expect it will be packed to overflowing."

The proposal is for a bare-bones facility, unlike Chicago's fancy bike station in Millennium Park.

However, it's possible that showers, change rooms and a bike tune-up service could be added later if the project takes off.

The cost hasn't been determined. There are two bike-rack suppliers being considered, one in the United States and one in Germany, and the city would probably go with the cheaper one, said Daniel Egan, manager of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

Heaps said cyclists would pay a "nominal" annual membership fee. The amount has not yet been decided upon.

The plan will be discussed at Monday's meeting of the cycling committee and will need to then be forwarded to city council for review and approval before it can go ahead.

The Toronto Star
2008.01.18
Page A07