Toronto Reference Library - Protected Bike Parking
If it works for staff, it will work for customers...
Did you know that Toronto’s Reference Library has protected bike parking? Neither did I, until I went to do a review of bike parking around Yonge/Bloor and decided to take a short walk north to the library. This is what I found…
Unfortunately, when I got close I noticed the dreaded card scanner, with a flashing red light…so I reached out to the twitter account of the Toronto Library, only to find that this fairly large cycling parking facility is only available to staff.
Given that:
- there is a lot of room around the library
- well known theft problems of leaving bikes parked at post-and-ring in the area
- location at a confluence of major bike lanes
- likelihood of parents bringing kids via larger bikes, e-bikes and trailers
- cargo bike usage in the area
It makes sense that the library install secure bike parking for customers. Initially this could be done via a buzzer system operated by staff, but it could also be linked to library cards, or presto/credit cards.
So here’s the motion:
Direct cycling staff to work with Toronto Library to install a protected bike shed at the Toronto Reference Library - with appropriate access controls to ensure that customers can easily access it
Update signage, local maps and websites to point users to the new facility