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

Sharon.Mackinnon@Hamilton.ca

City of Hamilton, Public Health Service

Peter.Topalovic@Hamilton.ca

City of Hamilton, Public Works