In a collaborative partnership, the City of San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), are thrilled to announce the installation of innovative On-Demand Bike Lockers along Morro Street in downtown San Luis Obispo and on the Cal Poly campus. Funding for the bike lockers was provided through SLOCOG‘s Community Betterments grant program. This funding program supports sustainable community-level transportation goals set by SLOCOG and SLOCOG’s member agencies.
The installation of these lockers marks a significant step in addressing the increasing need for secure bike parking solutions in San Luis Obispo. Ongoing maintenance and operational support for the lockers is also ensured, enhancing reliability and accessibility for community members. City of SLO Active Transportation Manager, Adam Fukushima elaborated, “We are grateful to SLOCOG for providing these new lockers. They are a great way to provide more bike parking options and meet the growing demand for more secure bike parking in downtown SLO, especially for cargo and eBikes, which the public has been asking for.”
These fully enclosed lockers, operated by BikeLink, offer cyclists secure and convenient storage solutions for their bicycles. The lockers can be “rented” and accessed by individual community members via the BikeLink mobile app. There is a sign on the side of the locker with instructions on how to use the locker, including a toll-free number to report any issues. As part of the multi-agency collaboration, a service agreement has been made with BikeLink to cover ongoing maintenance and 24-hour operational support.
Members of the community are encouraged to try out the system with their bikes. Instructions for use are provided on-site, with a nominal fee of $0.05 per hour. This fee aims to maintain affordability while discouraging bike abandonment, ensuring the sustainability of the locker system. Cyclists who register for a BikeLink account have access to their entire network throughout California and neighboring states.
Colin Pollington, Sustainable Transportation Coordinator at Cal Poly, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and new bike locker system, stating, “Cal Poly is excited to partner with the City of San Luis Obispo and SLOCOG on a joint, bike locker program, which will help expand healthy commute options to campus. Adding these short-term bike lockers to Cal Poly’s stock of long-term rentals will offer community members added flexibility when it comes to safe bike storage.”
The City of San Luis Obispo looks forward to the positive and sustainably focused impacts these lockers will have on the cycling community. By promoting sustainable transportation options and enhancing the overall visitor experience in downtown SLO and the Cal Poly campus, these lockers are part of a system that will grow.
The Downtown SLO bike lockers are on Morro Street between Marsh and Pacific and the Cal Poly lockers are adjacent to the Rec Center. For more information, please visit the BikeLink website or contact the City of San Luis Obispo’s Public Works Department.