What is it? A bike station is a secured and attended area where people can safely leave their bicycles for a short period of time, usually for several hours during the work day. Bike stations can be found at destinations where commuters converge, such as a downtown area, and where bicycling and public transit modes intersect, such as at a rail transit station (as the pictures illustrate, bike stations can be located in a variety of settings). Bike stations are most successful where bicycle security is an issue or where a bicycle is used for one leg of a commute, but is either not permitted or not practical for another leg of the trip.
 

As these images of the Long Beach Bike Station (left) and Seattle Bike Station (right) illustrate, bike stations can be located in a variety of contexts, and are particularly successful at destinations where commuters converge (such as a downtown area), where bicycling and public transit modes intersect (such as at a rail transit station), where bicycle security is an issue, and/or where a bicycle is used for one leg of a commute, but is either not permitted or not practical for another leg of the trip. (Source: BikeStation Coalition)

Why use it? People who want to commute by bike are often discouraged by situations where bicycles are either not permitted or where there is no secure place to park a bike. A bike station is the perfect solution for either scenario because it provides a safe and convenient link between bicycle commuting and public transportation. For example, combining bicycles and trains is the key to the success of bike stations on California rail lines, such as Caltrain at its Palo Alto station and BART at the downtown Berkeley and San Francisco Embarcadero stations.
 

In 1996 the nation's first city-owned bike station opened in Long Beach, California, modeled after European and Japanese examples. Since then, many similar stations have been opening near public transit hubs. Users can bike to transit and then take transit to work without having to worry about where to store their bicycles or whether or not their bicycles are safe. It also permits a healthier and environmentally friendly commute. Bike stations have opened in Palo Alto in 1998 and in Berkeley in 1999. Three more opened in the summer of 2003 in Seattle, San Francisco (Embarcadero BART station), and Denver. The BikeStation Coalition  is an organization that serves as an information-clearinghouse and support system to the individual bike station franchises that are responsible for the day-to-day operations of each facility. The BikeStation Coalition's goal is to create a recognizable name for secured bicycle parking, operated by a quality, dependable organization. Local operators vary per location and consist of non-profit, for-profit, and advocacy organizations. Mark Shandrow, executive director of the BikeStation Coalition, clearly sees the momentum of bike stations building. "The Embarcadero BART bike station is exciting because, with two bike stations on the same line, people can bike to one station, park the bike, ride BART across the bay to another station, and rent a bike to continue a journey," he said. "That is true intermodal transit."
 

How does it work? A bike station is an enclosed area that is usually run by a local bike shop or bicycle advocate organization. The station is secure and completely enclosed. There are various racks or hooks in place to store the bicycles during the day. The station operates similar to a coat check, where a bicyclist arrives and checks in the bicycle. The bicyclist's name and brief bicycle description are given to the attendant, who gives a claim check to the bicyclist. The claim checks at the Berkeley Bike Station have the hours of the station and the phone number printed on the back. When the bicyclist returns with the claim check, the attendant retrieves the bike from the secured area. Logs are kept to record the number of users, and the times of drop-offs and pick-ups.
 

Bike stations often do more than just provide a secure storage area for bicycles. Since the majority of the activity and demand for labor at the bicycle station occurs during morning and evening commute periods, there is time and space to do something else during the day. Other off-peak features of bike stations include the following: bicycle repairs, bicycle rentals, bike sharing, retail sales of bicycle-related accessories, community outreach, transit information, showers and changing rooms, internet access, discounts to local businesses, storage facilities, snacks, outdoor cafes, and outreach for the local bike store that may be serving as an operator for the facility.
 

Temporary bike stations can be set up to provide on-call bicycle parking for sporting events, festivals, concerts, and street fairs. As the graphic illustrates, these services are usually provided in a temporary structure set up in a highly visible area and are publicized in advance to encourage bicycling to events. The event host frequently offers a discount for admission to the event for people who arrive by bicycle. This parking not only makes it easier for the bicyclist, but also benefits people arriving by different means, by reducing congestion. Check with your local bicycle coalition or advocacy organization to see if they offer similar services in your area.
 

A 'temporary bike station' can be set up to provide secure bike parking for large-scale events. (Source: San Francisco Bicycle Coalition)