U Commute News

www.washington.edu/commuterservices
« previous article | table of contents | next article | print this page »          

Bike Locker Lease Tops Twenty-One Years

Parking a Bike on Campus:
the Facts on Lockers & Racks

The University maintains enough racks— many of them covered—to accommodate 5,200 bikes, and a system of 582 rental bike lockers in 31 campus locations.  Bike lockers rent for $65 per year plus a $50 key deposit.  All but a few areas currently have waiting lists.

Many are unaware that the U-PASS program subsidizes campus bike racks and bike lockers, as well as bike and pedestrian improvements. At a purchase and installation cost of approximately $1,300 for each locker space, the fees paid by bike locker users don’t begin to recoup the costs of the bike locker program.

The first bike lockers were installed on campus in 1985.  When the U-PASS program began six years later in 1991, there were only 54 locker spaces.  With the infusion of U-PASS funds, the program has expanded more than tenfold, with a 36 percent increase in inventory (154 spaces added) in the last three years alone. The most recent additions have been at the remodeled Johnson Hall and the new Foege Building.  The bike locker program will continue to grow, although no new capacity is anticipated for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Peter Dewey, Assistant Director of Transportation Services, expresses enthusiasm for the bike locker program, “We are committed to expanding the program over time, with new construction and where demand is greatest.”

Research Professor Alan Fantel is longest continuous locker lessee

In every Pacific Northwesterner’s life, a little rain must fall but for many bicyclists, like Research Professor Alan Fantel, that is no cause to curtail a bicycling commute. Since 1970, Dr. Fantel has bicycled to work at the University almost every day. He also has the distinction of having continuously rented a bicycle locker for longer than any current lessee—21 years and 3 months.

Dr. Fantel enjoys the 20 minute bike commute from Madison Park, which brings him through the beauty of the Arboretum, with its observable changes of season. “I look forward to the commute and find it exhilarating,” says Dr. Fantel. “It’s two enforced periods of exercise each day.” 

With the exception of snow or the occasional need to bring bulky or heavy items to work, Dr. Fantel finds biking the best commute alternative.  He says that, on the rare days when he drives, it always takes longer to get home by car. When his department administrator in Pediatrics offered him a coveted S-1 parking space from the department’s allotment in the late 1970s, he turned down the offer because he preferred his bike commute.

Although he would like to see more showers and clothing lockers on campus, Dr. Fantel says that he has no problem arriving at work refreshed, and dry, with the aid of good bike outerwear and a pair of seal skin waterproof socks. He rides carefully in traffic, and keeps safe with high intensity bike lights on the front and rear of his bike.

Dr. Fantel has high praise for the bike locker program. He loves having a bicycle locker and being able to begin the pedal home with a dry bike seat.

Need More Information on Biking?

Click on the green Bicycle icon at: www.washington.edu/commutingservices/

 

nonetable of contents | New Website | Look Up! | U-PASS Guides | Biennial Survey | Rain in the Rain | Vanpool Profile | Bike Locker Profile

Smart Card | Community Transit | Transit Changes | Accepting Plastic | Flexcar / U-CAR | Vanpool Riders | Bike Classes

The U-COMMUTE News is published twice a year for staff and faculty. For additional information, visit our web site at http://www.washington.edu/commuterservices/index.php. Your suggestions and comments are welcome. Please contact the Transportation Office at upass@u.washington.edu, 206.543.0450 or Box 355212.