from pilot to practice: bike valet services at local events december 3, 2014 sharon mackinnon and...
TRANSCRIPT
From Pilot to Practice: Bike Valet Services at Local Events December 3, 2014
Sharon Mackinnon and Peter Topalovic
How did all these people get here?
Challenge = Opportunity!
• Hamilton has many festivals/events
• Challenge in getting people there
• Opportunity for Bike Valet
• Opportunity to offer more “greening opportunities”
What is a Bike Valet?Works like a coat check
Free, safe, secure bike parking
Usually is fenced off with bike racks
Signage & gateway
Tents, tables & chairs for volunteers
Opportunity for advertising
Happy, enthusiastic, trained knowledgeable volunteers
Sign in/sign out sheet and bike tags
Who’s involved?
Public Health ServicesPublic Works
Primary Objectives
• Build community capacity
• Encourage AT to/from events
• Provide safe/secure bike parking
• Provide event organizers a structured location for bikes
• ↓ car parking requirements
• ↑ mobility around events by
↓ traffic congestion
• To maximize the value of public investment in AT infrastructure
• Establish cycling to events as a normative behaviour
Secondary Objectives
Provide info on transportation programs
Promote volunteer activities & not for profits
Secondary ObjectivesCity transportation goals fulfilled
Team up with other City Programs
Team up with other service providers
Summary of Bike Valet Pilot Program
• Open Streets Hamilton lead
• 4 events May to August 2013
• Parked 440 bikes
• Volunteers worked in pairs for 4 hour shifts
• Charged event organizer $300 that went to not-for-profit
• Used City of Hamilton resources but City doesn’t coordinate
Lessons Learned•Advertising/communication key
•Bike valet hours same as event
•Appropriate space
•Visible location & wayfinding
•Use bike racks for parking bikes
•Firm surface
•Shade and water for volunteers
Recommendations
• Provision of bike parking mandatory at events (?)
• No cost to park a bike but donations are ok
• Branding, sponsorship & advertising opportunities – leverage the opportunity
• Adequate signage, space, location (location, location!)
• T-shirts, chairs, shade, water
• 2 volunteers per 4 hr shift
• Back-up plan in place for volunteers who can’t make it
• On-line evaluation for participants
• Operator/event owner should have insurance
• The City does not run valets!
Recommendations
Pilot to Practice: Hamilton’s largest street festival is inspired to run a 1000 bike valet in partnership with
Downtown BIA
Future Opportunities
• Integration with Bike Share
• Continue collaboration on program services and community engagement
• Bike Valet as part of Bike Friendly BIAs
Future Opportunities
• City is assisting a Not-For-Profit to provide a 1000 bike valet at Pan Am
• Opportunity for bike valets at all Ti-Cat games & stadium events
Future OpportunitiesIntegrated PanAm Bike Valet and
Bikeshare station
Future OpportunitiesCycling takes the pressure off transit to move up to 15% of spectators to the stadium
from Downtown and GO
Thank you
City of Hamilton, Public Health Service
City of Hamilton, Public Works