VIDEO: Cyclists give thumbs up as enhanced Victoria bike service begins
Victoria’s Bike Valet is back for the season, offering cyclists peace of mind while spending time downtown.
The bike service, operated by Capital Bike, is back for a second year after a pilot in 2022. With extended opening hours and a longer season, cyclists in Victoria can expect a reliable place to store their rides compared to bike racks.
Capital Bike chief executive Adam Krupper said the program was designed to deter bike theft and last year’s popularity encouraged them to extend the season and hours.
“Basically, one of the reasons the service started is to reduce bike theft, and there’s a program called Project 529, and it’s a free bike registration system, and when people register their bikes through Project 529, it’s basically about an international database. ‘ said Krupp. “So if your bike is stolen and the police recover it, they can access the database and check the serial number or the bike description.”
To increase the number of bikes registered, Capital Bikes is offering people the option to register with Project 529 when they donate their bikes. Krupper said the process takes about two minutes and is free.
Krupper also said one goal of the program is to facilitate easy access to stores during peak shopping periods such as the holidays, so the duration of the service has been extended to December 23, 2023.
count. Matt Dell said Bike Valet Pilot has proven to be a popular and supported program in 2022 and can be a great way to make downtown accessible to people who don’t want to ride.
“People also like to cycle downtown and it’s a nice way to get around and see the city, so this is a big help for those people,” Dell said. “I strongly support this service and think it’s a great way to support our downtown area, reduce our regional traffic emissions, and make people feel safer in the city.”
Lorna Johnston, who picked up her bike downtown after a dentist appointment, said the process makes cycling from the west coast a breeze and she expects to use the program frequently.
More than 11,000 bikes were parked under the program last year, and as time extends, Krupper expects that number to increase to 15,000.
Scooters and mobility aids can also be stored at the bike service.
The current opening hours of the bicycle service are Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m Clock.
As the days get longer, service hours may be extended. The bike service is on Pandora next to City Hall.
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Bike service is located on Pandora Avenue, right next to City Hall. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
The bicycle service has extended opening hours for this season. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
