Geoff Munday would love to bike all the way to work, but the daily ride from North Saanich to his job in downtown Victoria is too far. Instead, he rides five kilometers from his home to the McTavish bus exchange, where he stores his bike in a secure locker and makes the rest of the trip by bus.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” says Munday, who started using the bike lockers three years ago. “I get some regular exercise, but I can still get to work on time.” His wife Victoria just started using one as well.
The lockers are operated by the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC), a non-profit group that advocates on behalf of cyclists and organizes a regular program of rides around the region.
The GVCC manages 30 lockers in partnership with BC Transit at three regional Park & Ride locations – McTavish Road near the airport, the Western Exchange at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre in Colwood near the Galloping Goose Trail, and the Langford Exchange on Station Avenue next to the new E & N Rail Trail. The lockers rent for $10 a month with a $30 refundable key deposit.
“This service works well for people looking to further reduce car use,” says Bharat Chandramouli, Vice President of the GVCC. “At present, we have lockers available at all three locations, so it’s great time for people to sign up, pay online at http://www.gvcc.bc.ca, meet one of our volunteers to pick up a key and get hands-on instructions on locker operation.”
“The lockers keep the bikes safe. You are now able to reduce your carbon footprint and ride your bike every day.”
“Partnering with the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition allows us to help support and shape our livable communities by making alternate and active transportation a great and reliable choice,” says Dave Guthrie, General Manager of Victoria Regional Transit Operations at BC Transit. “Providing options for bus and bike travel helps us better connect our communities.”
For information, go to the GVCC website at http://gvcc.bc.ca/store/ or email info@gvcc.bc.ca.
