The $1.4-million, 1,600+ square-foot facility is located near the City of Los Angeles and Culver City Expo Line bikeways for convenient access to and from local destinations.
The Culver City Expo Line Station currently offers 12 bicycle racks and 18 bicycle lockers. The new hub doubles that, with secure parking for 64 bicycles under a controlled entry system with the hub also having closed-circuit TV surveillance. The hub will also support a variety of bicycle commuter-related services, including around-the-clock bike parking, bike rentals, repairs, accessory sales and bike-related clinics, classes and community events.
Metro’s growing network of bike hubs allows bicycle commuters to leave their bikes at stations in a safe environment and avoid the hassle that sometimes results when bringing bikes aboard crowded trains or waiting for a bus with space on its bike rack. Bike hubs are also an effective way to encourage “first mile, last mile” connections to transit, which are a common barrier for many would-be transit riders.
The opening of the Culver City Metro Bike Hub coincides with CicLAvia: Culver City Meets Mar Vista + Palms Presented by Metro this Sunday, March 3. Metro will stage an Open House at the bike hub for all interested CicLAvia riders to tour the facility and sign up for a membership from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A promotion code will be offered to those visiting the Metro Bike Hub that day for a 20 percent discount on Metro Bike Hub pass purchases — which include access to all Metro Bike Hubs locations.
The bike hub’s secure bike parking component will be operated by BikeHub, Metro’s Small Business Enterprise-certified contractor that also operates the agency’s Union Station, El Monte and Hollywood/Vine locations.
Retail and bike services will be provided by the Bike Center with retail hours Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Parking at the Culver City Metro Bike Hub will be available for registered users for only $5 a week, $12 a month or $60 a year.
As part of their membership benefit users will also have access to the Union Station, El Monte and Hollywood/Vine Metro Bike Hubs. Only registered users can park in the facility. Users can register online at www.metro.net/bikehub. A California identification card/driver’s license or Metro Bike Hub card is used to enter the facility. Users are responsible for locking their bike and gear to the racks.
Categories: Bicycle, Policy & Funding, Projects
Hopefully this bike hub will be more secure than the existing ones. This month’s staff report, from Metro Parking Management, describes bike hub break-ins by thieves who were able to disengage locks. That doesn’t inspire confidence.