A program popular among cyclists in Penticton will be returning to the Penticton Farmers Market this weekend.
The Penticton and Area Cycling Association (PACA) has announced that their bike valet program will be back at the Penticton Farmers Market Saturday, April 24, as well as every Saturday through the end of September.
Operating like a coat check, the bike valet is a staffed bike parking area that operates from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
After launching in 2018, the program became a hit with Penticton cyclists but couldn’t happen last year due to COVID-19.
The parking area has moved this year to the northeast corner of Gyro Park, near the entrance to the market. The service uses the equivalent footprint of roughly four car parking spaces, and can accommodate 75 bikes at any one time. And, best of all, it’s completely free.
So that the bike valet program can operate safely during COVID-19, a safety plan has been put in place with the help of Interior Health, WorkSafe BC, and the City of Penticton. Bike Valet operators ask that those using the service follow the directions of staff when dropping off and picking up bikes to keep everyone safe.
“We look forward to seeing everyone who has used our service previously, and hope to see many more people park their bikes with us in 2021,” said PACA’s urban cycling director Matt Hopkins. “We started in 2018 with a mission to show our city leaders that cycling in Penticton will increase if it becomes a safe and easy form of transportation.”
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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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