(Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

bike valet

Stoked spokes: Kamloops cyclists excited about free bike valet service

Jun 5, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS – After a successful trial run at last year’s Kamloops Farmers Market and several city-run events, Kamloops’ bike valet has found a more permanent home downtown. The free bike valet service is now open Monday to Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until September 2.

The pilot initiative was approved by council earlier this year in an effort to promote active transportation in the city and is now a dream come true for many Kamloops cyclists.

“We rode our bikes today. We’re going to visit our friend in the hospital, and we didn’t want to leave our bike out because there’s so much theft,” said Natasha Winston, a cyclist and bike valet user.

For many Kamloops cyclists, bike theft has been one of the biggest deterrents from switching to active transportation commuting in and out of downtown.

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“Having one person stand outside a store guarding the bikes while the other person is in shopping is not as much fun,” Winston said, adding how excited she was when she heard the bike valet would be operating all summer.

According to Stacey Gagnon, cycling initiatives coordinator for the City of Kamloops, more than 70 people registered for a free season pass in the first month the bike valet has been open.

“You can opt to have a season pass, one goes on your bike one stays with you,” Gagnon explained. “This is free. It’s no cost to get this done and then you don’t have to give your information every time.”

Just like a coat check, residents can drop off their bikes, wagons, scooters or any other active transportation method with wheels with one of the valet employees to park, then pick it up later.

“We’re feeling really good about it. It’s a fenced enclosure. There are people here looking after your bike and we used it once before at the market on a Saturday and it went really well,” said Winston.

With so many construction projects and road closures downtown, Gagnon says more people are opting to ride their bikes and skip the hassle of parking a vehicle.

“I rode down here last night right at rush hour about 4:00 or 5:00-ish,” she explained. “Instead of taking me about 20-to-25 minutes to come down over the bridge, come into downtown, and then be able to find parking, I am sure I cut my time in half by riding my bike, avoiding all the traffic and coming and putting my bike away and going have dinner.”

The seasonal service is slated to close down shop in the fall with the possibility of restarting operations next spring.