TriMet's largest Bike & Ride facility opens today
July 18, 2011
The 100-space bike parking facility opens at Beaverton Transit Center
TriMet's Bike & Ride facility at Beaverton Transit Center opened today, the largest secure bike-parking facility in the system and the second to open on the Westside. The Beaverton Bike & Ride provides parking for 100 bikes and helps more cyclists make connections to bus, MAX and WES. The facility features both enclosed and covered bike parking.
Celebrating the opening were Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle, Washington County Commission Chair Andy Duyck, Bicycle Transportation Alliance Executive Director Rob Sadowsky and Beaverton Bike Advisory Committee Chair Barbara Chapnick, along with TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane.
Beaverton Transit Center is the busiest transit center for bike access, with about 12 percent of MAX riders accessing it by bike. The bike racks are often full and all bike lockers are rented, plus there is limited space to bring a bike onboard, especially during rush hour.
"Bike & Rides provide riders with more options when they combine their bike trips with transit," said TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane. "These secure facilities give riders the certainty that they can safely park their bike and board the train."
Accessing the secure Bike & Ride
The enclosed area requires a BikeLink smartcard to enter; riders lock their bikes inside using their own bike lock. The $20 BikeLink card works like a parking meter: 3 cents is deducted for each hour their bike is parked (only 1 cent on evenings and weekends). It works out to 30 cents for a day or $3 if the bike is left for the whole week. A one-time fee of $5 is charged to verify the customer's ID. Cards can be purchased for half-price while supplies last at the Bike Gallery Beaverton location, the Coffee Break at the transit center, the TriMet Ticket Office at Pioneer Square and other retail locations. BikeLink cards can also be purchased online at www.bikelink.org for the regular price of $20. Visit trimet.org/bikeandride for more information.
Gresham Bike & Ride opens today
Monday also marks the opening of the 30-space Bike & Ride facility at Gresham Central Transit Center. The secure Bike & Ride, located in the parking garage at the transit center, has been upgraded with keycard access and surveillance cameras. With two facilities opening on July 18, it brings the total to three Bike & Ride facilities in the TriMet system. The first opened in July 2010 at the Sunset Transit Center.
Federal stimulus dollars funded the three Bike & Rides with a total of 204 spaces, plus replacement of 110 bike lockers located across the transit system.
More information about TriMet and bikes can be found at trimet.org/howtoride/bikes.