The Bike Valet is back.
The Penticton and Area Cycling Association (PACA) announced this week that the Bike Valet will be returning to the Penticton Farmers Market on May 11, and every Saturday through the end of September.
Operating like a coat check for bikes, the bike valet is a staffed bike parking area that operates from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. It is set up between City Hall and Gyro Park and is free to use.
The Bike Valet service is a tool used around the globe to reduce one of the barriers to people cycling; adequate bike parking.
This is year two of the service: last year the Bike Valet was provided at the market for 20 weeks, parking a total of 808 bikes.
“We look forward to seeing everyone we met last year, and hope to see many more people park their bikes with us in 2019,” said Matt Hopkins, PACA board member, in a news release. “We started last year with a mission to show that cycling is a simple, cheap, inclusive, effective and fun transportation option and that there is a large latent demand for cycling facilities in Penticton. No doubt the success of the Bike Valet last year showed that.”
The age range of the Bike Valet users was from one to 85.
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The footprint of the Bike Valet is roughly three car parking spaces and can park 50 bikes at any one time.
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PACA continues to advocate for the desperate need for safe cycling facilities appropriate for all ages and abilities and is encouraged by funding committed to the early planning stages of such a facility in 2019.
PACA is hoping to offer the Bike Valet at other Penticton events this summer. All public inquiries regarding the Penticton Bike Valet can be directed to pentictonbikevalet@gmail.com.