These aren’t your ordinary bike racks

As bike theft continues to be an aggravating concern for Kelowna residents, there’s hope that Bikeep rack stations can be a small part of the solution.

You may have already noticed one at the downtown Safeway, which was installed there by local company E-Kruise, but now the City of Kelowna is jumping on board.

The City is sponsoring a two-year trial of four charging Bikeep stations to provide a safe place to park bikes and scooters.

They’re located at Parkinson Recreation Centre, on Cawston Avenue next to the Rotary Centre for the Arts and the Tourism Kelowna Visitor Centre. Another is planned for Pandosy Village.

While these are the City-sponsored racks, local businesses and groups are also investigating in Bikeep and will be behind four expected to arrive by the end of May at Orchard Park Mall.

All Bikeep stations around Kelowna will be operated and maintained by E-Kruise.

“Bikeep is smart bike parking that is innovative, flexible and reliable,” noted Ashton Olsen, founder of E-Kruise Solutions.

“The locks have had 99% theft reduction rate, are currently operating in 21 countries and gaining uptick in North American cities.”

These Bikeep rack stations are equipped with a strong tamper-proof metal arm to secure a bike frame and tire to the rack.

“Should there be an attempt to tamper with a bike locked at a station, the alarm goes off and security is sent a message,” explained a City release.

Each station has five docks and charging capabilities, which makes it a great place to leave your e-bike or e-scooter to ensure it has enough juice for the ride home.

It costs $1 to lock up a bike or scooter for three hours or $8 per month for unlimited use throughout Kelowna, although these stations will be free until June 1 to give people a chance to try them out.

All you need to try them is to download the free Bikeep app on your phone.

“Concerns over bike security have risen in recent years, between increased bike theft but also the increased value of many bikes,” said Suzanne Therrien, the City’s active transportation planner. 

“Electric powered bicycles and other micro mobility devices like scooters enable people to travel further around the city and make active transportation a more competitive option to driving.”

The City says it plans on developing a comprehensive bike parking and security strategy and Bikeep is “just one innovation” that will play a part in addressing the bigger bike theft concern in Kelowna.