Downtown’s Bike Station Opened Four Years Ago
Many thought we’d never get a bike station — a place to shower, change clothes, and store your bike. After it opened the question became how long would it remain open? Today marks four years, in that time Trailnet moved their offices from a storefront space at 16th & Washington to an upper floor of the same building as the bike station. Also, local retailer Big Shark Bicycle Co opened Urban Shark in a connected space — offering service & sales.
For more information on daily, monthly, & annual memberships click here. I know when I commuted to work by bike in the late 90s I was glad my employer had a locker & shower I could use, this is an important asset for downtown as not all employers have such facilities.
— Steve Patterson
How well is it actually working? Has use met projections? Are the costs being covered, the budget being met? If so, when will we see more, in other parts of the city? If not, how long will this one stay open?
Why don’t you call the owners of the Trailnet and ask them if you’re that interested?
You look at Amsterdam and the heavy bike usage there I think the question becomes a more comprehensive approach over just a bike station. Truthfully I don’t believe you can understand the role of bikes and the need for bike stations until there is a commitment to an inclusive transit system as a part of the solution. Clearly transit impacts cycling, it may be there are parts of town where bikes are preferable to autos and buses.
So cool, the urban yuppies get to congregate at a bike center, that leaves the rest of transit in crisis throughout the rest of the region. This station cannot flourish in isolation, I don’t see how. The worse outcome is that the station becomes an isolated case of cycling support.
The underlying problem is that the city itself is designed for autos and not bicycles nor pedestrians, until that changes, or is at least debated, bicycles will be considered in marginal terms.