The University of Arizona’s bike valet opened Tuesday. According to the attendants less than 10 bikes were valeted, but officials said it would take time to get the word out.
Here are a few photos from the bike valet:
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• The Parking and Transportation Department will not be responsible for damaged or stolen bikes.
• Bikes must be picked up by 5:45 p.m. and will be locked to the rack if they aren’t picked up.
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Need I say more? I applaud the effort, and the UAs heart is certainly in the right place, but those two reasons are why, for me at least, this is a “last resort” option to be regretfully utilized if I (A) forget the key to my lock, (B) can’t get a coworker to let me stash my bike in their car, and (C) don’t have my CC or enough cash to run over to the bike shop and buy another lock, (and of course (D) for some reason can’t use the spare lock and key I now have at work after having experienced A and B and resorting to C once a couple of years ago).
Yeah, Scott’s got a good point, especially about the lack of responsibility. All it takes is for one of the valet’s to look away or get distracted for a moment and someone could easily make off with my bike, and the U would say “Too bad for you!” Maybe what they could do is lock each bike up while it’s in the valet area, so it’s not so easy to lift one. And give the bike owner the key while it’s in the valet. It’ll be interesting to see how this idea of a bike valet on campus plays out.
Yeah, Scott’s got a good point, especially about the lack of responsibility. All it takes is for one of the valet’s to look away or get distracted for a moment and someone could easily make off with my bike, and the U would say “Too bad for you!” Maybe what they could do is lock each bike up while it’s in the valet area, so it’s not so easy to lift one. And give the bike owner the key while it’s in the valet. It’ll be interesting to see how this idea of a bike valet on campus plays out.
At this time the intent and that something radical, something potentially adaptive, is being tried at The Great Big U are what matters. Like any “new thing” it needs tweeking and that can be done if it isn’t gratuitously needled and dismissed out of hand…
It is a nice option for people if they have forgotten their lock or are forced to ride their more expensive bike due to a commuter theft. However it is much more convenient for me to find a spot on the rack and and lock up my bike than to wait for a valet parker and receive my medallion for claiming my ride later. I’m personally not surprised that there was less than 10 bikes on the first day due to the 50 cent parking fee. I was much more willing to park my bike with them the next day when the fee was waived. A 50cent fee is so minuscule to the University anyway there is no way they could actually profit from it. If they decide to stick with the free parking they will have a much better chance of getting students to park their bikes in the valet
i’ve been biking to campus for 20 years — seriously, 20 years — parking all day, early in the morning, late at night, all over campus, all days of the week, and never had anyone mess with my bike. tell me why we need valet bike parking? i do not get the need for this. not at all.
there were less than ten bikes at the valet when it was still free… they haven’t started charging yet (it’s free until the 24th)! no one wants to do this even while it’s free. that should tell the UA something. bet they won’t hear it.
how is this radical? how will this get anyone to bike to campus that wouldn’t already?
I used it yesterday. Nothing special. The upside is that I work out of social sciences and they have had to add more and more racks to make space there. The valet is close and I don’t have to figure out where amongst the bikes to force my way in and lock my bike. But today, when I may be going to happy hour after work and staying until 6, it is not an option.
I think it would be a good option for faculty or staff who are not allowed to put their bikes in their offices. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. Especially the money the U spent on putting signs saying “No Bikes” on all buildings. I would use it so I could use my nice road bike to commute.
They should use one of those long cables that bike shops use to lock a bunch of bikes outside. That would help. Or maybe contact U-Lock and get a bunch of u-locks keyed with the same so they could quickly lock them. With an attendant standing there and a u-lock it would keep most theifs from steeling them.
Sometimes whining is a good sign…