Print

E-mail

Text

"There is clearly a demand here," Gord Perks said, looking around a less-than-full parking lot at the Keele Street subway station.

Although cars were not in abundance, bikes were a different story. They filled the bike racks in front of the station and were locked to just about anything they could be locked to in the rear of the station.

Perks, Councillor for Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park, met with Adam Giambrone, TTC Chair and Councillor for Ward 18 Davenport and Peggy Nash, incumbent MP for Parkdale-High Park at the Keele Street subway station on Bloor Street West at Keele Street/Parkside, on Sept. 22 to survey the area and discuss the possible installation of bike lockers.

Nash said bike lockers would provide peace of mind for cyclists. Bike lockers are enclosed secure bicycle parking that provides protection from theft, vandalism and inclement weather. Nash and Perks put in a request to have lockers installed while the station is being re-done. They said it is all part and parcel of the work they have been doing together to promote bike infrastructure and alternative transportation.

"If you look at all this space, you've got potential here with out taking away from the sidewalk," Giambrone said, adding that there is space for 40 to 50 bike lockers.

Each bike locker costs about $1,000. Giambrone explained they were designed by the people who designed the city's new street furniture and they will not have advertisements on them. Though they may not be the most attractive things, Giambrone said the new design looks a little more modern.

The aim is to have the lockers installed by the end of 2008, provided the installation gets appropriate council approval.