So why aren’t there more?
Access to secure bicycle parking significantly influences commuters attitude towards adopting active transport.
The Parkiteer project created in 2008, managed by Public Transport Victoria and administered by Bicycle Network, has been a tremendous success story with over 100 cages across the Victorian metropolitan and regional rail network erected on PTV land.
To date, in the BayWest BUG area there are Parkiteers at the following stations:
- Werribee (2 cages)
- Tarneit
- Wyndham Vale
- Hoppers Crossing
- Williams Landing
- Laverton (2 cages)
- Newport
In the BUG’s area a number of stations still lack the facility (e.g. Williamstown, Altona, Westona and Spotswood), while the demand for Parkiteer parking at other stations necessitates a second cage (see photo of bikes left outside Newport Station) disadvantaging the local community.
The cages offer 26 spaces, have code-controlled access, are low cost, low risk, low maintenance and attracting low levels of vandalism.
City Councils are being encouraged to make overflow arrangements by providing more co-located cycle hoops, offering better security protection and tidiness than permitting pavement parking.
Parkiteers offer an all-win opportunity for the community:
Current cyclists are offered secure parking,
The facility encourages more commuters to move from car to cycle,
This reduction releases more car parking spaces,
Fewer bicycles on trains creates less disruption for commuters,
Pedestrians are released from the inconvenience and unsightliness of bicycles blocking pavements.
Parkiteers bring economy of scale advantages. A 26 space Parkiteer costs less than 5 car park spaces and occupies far less space, making better use of the available land and at far less cost. Furthermore,access to secure bicycle parking reduces the number of cars on the road decreasing congestion and pollution and an active lifestyle further reduces demands (cost and time) on the health service.
The BUG will continue to advocate for the continued expansion of Parkiteers in the BayWest area.
Post note: The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) has started work to remove the level crossing adjacent to Aircraft Station and involving numerous enhancements to the Station. Land has been earmarked for where a Parkiteer might be located but, as of 1 January 2019, it is understood that there is no funding provision for its erection.
