City spending $10.6K for four new parking spots, no cars allowed

(NOTE: The combined cost of the two Cycle Sitters mentioned in this article was about $10,625. Earlier versions erroneously reported it was $21,000. City council rejected the purchase.)

City council is expected to give a green light on Monday to a pilot project aimed at providing a secure place for cyclists to store their bikes when visiting downtown.

Known as the City Bike Shelter project, the initiative will place two pre-assembled bicycle lockers, each capable of storing two bikes at downtown locations.

One will be adjacent to the James L. McIntyre Centennial Library.

The other will be in the Queen Street Commons/ King Street Alley near Outspoken Brewing Co.

"The lockers will be bolted to the ground and will provide a secure place for cyclists to store their bikes, encouraging bike use and enhancing community accessibility," say Emily Cormier, the city's sustainability co-ordinator and Virginia McLeod, manager of recreation and culture, in a report prepared for Mayor Shoemaker and councillors.

"Users will supply their own lock when using them," the report states.

"The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and Outspoken Brewing Co. have offered to support the city’s secure bike-rack storage project to ensuring no misuse by using a city-supplied padlock to use on each of the lockers to lock them up at the end of the day and to unlock in the morning."

The project is meant to address the fear of bicycle theft cited by many people as a reason they're reluctant to visit downtown destinations.

"Bike valets are set up in areas with bike traffic or popular locations where the cyclist can leave their bike in a safe and secure location while they are away. The cyclist can retrieve their bike whenever they are ready to go," Cormier and McLeod said in their report.

City officials looked at bike parking solutions from five companies and determines that the Cycle Sitter, supplied by Greenspoke Bike Parking Solutions of Paris, Ont. was the least costly.

Each weather-resistant shelter can hold two bicycles.

Users will be expected to use their own locks while parking in one of the Cycle Sitters. 

If the funding application isn't approved by city council on Monday, a 2026 capital budget request will be made by city staff next year.

Monday's city council meeting will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.