City installs bicycle lockers at rail stations
In recent years, residents of Santa Clarita, Calif., increasingly have been using bicycles and public transportation instead of cars. Recognizing that trend, the city has made efforts to accommodate residents’ bicycle storage needs.
In March 2000, a Metrolink commuter rail station opened to serve the residents of Newhall, and the city made sure that the station was equipped with bicycle lockers. The lockers are large enough to secure bicycles and other equipment for long periods of time without risk of damage. Santa Clarita has two other rail stations outfitted with bicycle lockers, and it has found that 50 to 100 residents use those lockers daily.
Prior to installing lockers in Newhall, the parks and recreation department considered setting up a guarded bicycle parking facility. The department determined that the cost per parking space in a bicycle parking facility was double the cost of a locker space. Additionally, the parking facility would have been guarded only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., while bicycle lockers would provide 24-hour security.
In February 2000, the city purchased 22 lockers from Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Cycle-Safe to use in Newhall. Baldwin Park, Calif.-based Terra-Cal, a general contractor, installed the lockers.
Residents pay a one-time $15 key deposit to use the lockers, which have generated positive responses. In fact, more residents are riding their bicycles to the train station because the lockers are available, says Dona Kazmar, Santa Clarita project development coordinator.