Historicist: "The city that nobody loves"
Elsewhere in the Ist-a-Verse
Toronto is getting the first of what are planned to be several new bicycle stations this morning, aimed at making cycling a more comfortable option for commuters. Nestled into the pedestrian underpass on York Street right by Union Station, the station provides secure, monitored storage for bicycles, as well as changing facilities, a repair stand, and a few other thoughtful amenities, like a vending machine that dispenses tubes and lights.
Twenty-five dollars buys you a lifetime membership, after which you can rent space by the month or in four-month increments; non-members can use the facilities during staffed daytime hours for two dollars. The station can store up to 180 bikes (which means that it can sell approximately three times as many rentals, since not everyone will be using it simultaneously), and is predicted to reach capacity within its first month. There will also (hooray!) be a very small number of bicycles set aside for an in-house bike share program, available during regular business hours.
Torontoist got a sneak peek at Union's new station last week, and we are now glad to give you, on its opening day, the very first pictures of what is perhaps the first parking lot we have ever really loved.
All photos by Hamutal Dotan/Torontoist.
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It is great to see this happening, and doing it for a fee (so that not all spaces are taken up) charged on different time bases (so that not only those who commit to a year or something can use it) makes good sense. Kudos to the City.
I must say that I am surprised not to see gyms and fitness clubs getting into this game. All it takes is a room to store bikes in, they already have full-time attendants, and it's a great add-on to a membership, especially for gyms near offices -- ride in, shower, change, leave your bike. I know I'd be inclined to switch my membership to a club that offered this. How about it, gyms of T.O.?
There's many a space in the TTC subway system that could accommodate such a facility. At least then commuters wouldn't have to leave their bikes on post/rings outside the door in all weathers.
I've always thought those huge lobbies in office
buildings that have a security guy sitting at the desk
would be a perfect spot for people to leave their bikes.
just have to find a spot to put a few racks.