As you may have read from a previous post I recently got a new bicycle on the road! The STM (Société de Transport de Montréal) announced that they would be testing a bicycle shelter at the Lionel-Groulx Metro and bus station. In October of 2013 that bicycle shelter was opened up to the public in a pilot project.
In order to get access to the shelter during the pilot project you must/had to fill out the request form found on the STM website. In my case a reply a few weeks later inviting me to stop by either Berri Uqam or Lionel-Groulx metro station and have my pass modified to allow access to the bicycle shelter.
I’m very excited about this specific service provided by the STM. I say this as someone who’s been known to call their service laughable. I also regularly use this metro station so being able to lock my bicycle in a secure shelter is exciting.
Let’s have a look at their setup! The bike shelter is located on the west of of the metro station exit. Here’s a picture of it from a distance, approaching from the west. The big building in the background is the metro station and it’s only exit on the east side.
In the set of pictures below you have you’re looking at the front of the bike shelter. The card reader at the entrance which grants you access the locker. A sign on the door that provides some instructions explaining what to do in case:
- of a problem
- to report something defective
- to request access
- if you have any additional questions.
Unfortunately the sign is only in French. I don’t personally have an issue with that, we are in Québec after all. I’m guessing they’re simply waiting on the English version to be put up.
I’m excited to have access during the pilot project. I’ve often seen these types of bicycle racks during my travels but had never had the opportunity to actually try one.
Montreal is a city which is known for it’s bike theft. As a bike owner who doesn’t want to have his bicycle stolen you should have the mentality of making your bicycle less desirable to a thief by making it harder target. Consider two different locks. Having access to a secure area to lock ones bicycle where it’s protected from the elements and included in my monthly transit pass cost is just phenomenal.
The interior was basic and has good lighting. The walls are mostly hardened glass of some type. It’s an excellent material for the job allowing individuals to see inside and vice versa. There’s no need to worry about what might be waiting inside when you can clearly see inside. Same goes for a bike thief with a bunch of tools.
The pictures below include instructions greeting you and explaining how to work the bicycle racks, a lowered bike rack and a shot of the inside of the shelter itself:
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- bicycle rack down
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- Rack instructions
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- Inside of shelter
I had a hard time getting the first rack I tried to lower. Rechecked the instructions and tried on a second rack and it lowered without much effort. The inside of the bike shelter is basic yet nice. I leave you all with a picture of my ride being loaded onto the storage rack:
It’ll be interesting to see the progression of the pilot project as it moves forward.
mtl_dokkaebi
