With the weather getting better, my thoughts naturally turn to my bicycle and the joy of riding. Coincidently, I managed to rediscover the bike lockers (not locks, not stand, lockers) at my nearest subway station. They certainly seem more secure that traditional bike stands.
Toronto is lagging behind in the adoption of bicycle lanes, bicycle positive legislation, bicycle education for riders and car drivers (Just saying share the road is not enough!), and promotion. It is with that in mind that I celebrate even this meagre step. Anything that can be done to get more people out on bikes is a good thing.
After doing a little online research, I found it only costs ten dollars (+5% GST) a month to reserve one of the 2500 lockers in the system. For payment they accept money orders, certified cheques, debit cards, and cash, but not credit cards. Sadly, there is no insurance coverage for this, but I suppose your home insurance would apply to this….maybe? The lockers are split on the diagonal, with doors on either side to make better use of the space.. They aren’t as cool as Japan’s underground automatic bike parking, but they are still a better than usual for Toronto idea.
I do not commute to work by bicycle, but if my work had a shower, I could make use of this system. Perhaps some day in the future.
Very cool! (BTW, as for home insurance covering that unit, don’t count on it. As it stands, insuring possessions in a standard storage unit is considered “off-premises” coverage. Under the unlikely possibility that a bike locker would qualify, unless your bike’s worth a fortune, I’d think it’s hardly worth the extra expense. Just my two cents.)