新消息

[SIZE="3"]A secured bicycle lockup will be constructed by TEK Steel Ltd. between the Fredericton Police Station and Sutton House on Queen Street at a cost of $32,374.

Construction of the facility was recommended in the city's trails and bikeways master plan, said Coun. David Kelly, chairman of the city's community services committee.

"Hopefully, it will encourage citizens to use forms of active transportation to commute to work or other activities by offering them a secure, sheltered, convenient location to park their bikes and contribute to making our city greener," Kelly said.

The city's community services committee was briefed on the project at a meeting last week.

A sample design for the facility was shown to the committee illustrating a double-decker system of bicycle racks. Bicycle owners will slide their bike into the rack and use their own lock to secure their bicycles.

There will be a $50 fee to use the facility, which will be open between May 1 and Dec. 10. There will be a $10 refundable deposit for an access card to the locked shelter.

The facility will have a roof, but its interior will be visible for security purposes.

The bicycle parking facility will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

That means if an individual bicycles downtown, then decides to take the bus home because of inclement weather, their bicycle will be secured and sheltered.

The bicycle shelter - to be made of structural steel with a wall iron grillwork, wall cladding and a metal roof - will hold up to 25 bicycles, but can be expanded to hold up to 36.

Interested cyclists can register at the front desk of the community services office located at 335 Queen St. between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekends or by calling 460-2230.

The city is also thinking of creating a less expensive monthly fee for people who don't want a pass for the whole May to December season.

"This is a great idea," said Coun. Stephen Chase.

He said he'd like to see similar bicycle facilities expanded to other locations, such as city-owned parking structures.

Frank Flanagan, assistant director of development services, said the city's new downtown convention centre is being eyed as a potential downtown east end spot for a similar bicycle lockup.

Harold Boone, trail and project co-ordinator for the city, said city hall wants to see how the first facility is used.

Since some cyclists have expensive bicycles, there will be a learning curve and a bit of a sales pitch to get them to test out the first facility.

The city is also hoping large private-sector employers take note and think about encouraging their employees to cycle to work by providing storage locations for bicycles in the downtown area.

Radical Edge plans to support the project by offering a bicycle tuneup special to anyone who participates in the city's bicycle shelter program.

The city hopes to have the facility built and ready for use this summer.[/SIZE]

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LOCKUP: Above is a conceptual image of the proposed bike racks.