As urban cyclists, we often face a dilemma: choosing between the convenience of cycling and the security of our bikes. Finding adequate and secure bike parking can be a real challenge, limiting our ability to choose our bikes for daily errands and activities. CycleWR, your local urban cycling advocacy group, is on a mission to encourage businesses and the city to invest in more bike racks. We recently spoke with Scotty, co-owner of Grand River Rocks, a climbing gym with locations in Kitchener and Waterloo, to learn about their recent bike rack upgrade – a shining example of how businesses can make a real difference for the cycling community.
A Growing Demand for Secure Bike Parking
Grand River Rocks identified a significant problem: their single bike rack was no longer meeting the needs of their members. Its design was not suitable for bikes with wider tires, and securing frames was a struggle. As more climbers cycled to their downtown-adjacent Kitchener location, the inadequate rack resulted in “double parking” and a shortage of secure bike storage. This spring, they took a significant step by installing a new, larger bike rack that now boasts 30 spaces – exceeding their current needs, but proactively addressing future demand and ensuring every cyclist has a spot.
Strategic Placement for Security and Visibility
For business owners, the concern of bike theft is a valid one. Grand River Rocks addressed this head-on by strategically placing their new 30-space rack directly in front of their main entrance. This high-visibility location, easily seen from both the gym entrance and Victoria Street, acts as a powerful deterrent. Scotty shared a compelling statistic: while their old location experienced four to five bike thefts per summer, the new location, with its improved rack and security cameras, has seen only one theft, even as the number of users has increased. This demonstrates that visible and well-placed bike infrastructure is a strong defense against theft.
A Smooth Process for Business Owners
Business owners might wonder about the logistics of such an upgrade. Scotty explained that the process was surprisingly straightforward. Obtaining landlord approval was simple, and Grand River Rocks fully funded the project themselves. Importantly, they didn’t require any permits as they maintained their overall parking space requirements by converting two car spots into 30 bike spaces, ensuring no barrier-free spaces were affected. This highlights that enhancing bike infrastructure can be a manageable endeavor.
Choosing the Right Rack
Grand River Rocks, drawing on 12 years of experience with various bike rack designs at their locations and the owners being cyclists themselves, thoughtfully selected an inverted U-rack from a Vancouver company. They chose it for its solid construction, functionality, and versatility, which accommodates various bike types—a choice that, unsurprisingly, aligns with the bike rack we highlighted in an earlier blog post. For businesses considering an upgrade, this emphasizes the importance of selecting a durable and user-friendly design.
Join the Movement
Grand River Rocks’ commitment to providing excellent cycling infrastructure is an inspiring model for other businesses in the Waterloo Region. By investing in secure and ample bike parking, businesses can not only enhance the customer experience for cyclists but also contribute to a more vibrant and sustainable community. For urban cyclists, more bike racks mean more freedom to choose your bike for daily commutes, errands, and leisure. For business owners, it means attracting a growing segment of customers and showcasing a commitment to sustainable practices.
As Scotty puts it, the investment was about more than just parking: “What’s more important to us [is] giving our members what they want and giving back to the community, giving a community feel: something about riding in and meeting your friends on a bike feels a lot more [like] community.”
Let’s work together to make the Waterloo Region truly bike-friendly! If you’re a business owner considering a bike rack upgrade, you can reach out to us at hello@cyclewr.ca for guidance. Together, we can make cycling a more convenient and secure option for everyone.