Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Montclair To Open State's First Bike Depot

Montclair area commuters will now have a secure place to store bicycles at the Bay Street train station. Montclair Township, in partnership with the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, will unveil its new Bike Depot during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be held on Thursday, October 16, at 10:00 a.m., at the Bay Street station in Montclair.

The Bike Depot – the first of its kind in the state – will provide safe, secure, weather-protected storage for bikes, helmets and personal items. The new depot, which also has a 24/7 security camera, is available to anyone for a small membership fee; members will use an access card to gain entry.

“Most bike racks at NJ Transit stations are out in the open, leaving bikes subject to be vandalized or stolen,” says Cyndi Steiner, executive director, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition. “Because commuters can now store a bike securely in the Bike Depot, a safer, higher quality bike can be ridden to the train station, providing alternative transportation options to commuters from a greater distance. The Bike Depot will serve as a model for other NJ Transit train stations.”

The Bike Depot is made possible through grants from Sustainable Jersey, PSEG, Partners for Health, and in-kind support from The Pinnacle Companies, a local real estate developer with a focus on sustainable projects. Additional sponsorships are available for companies with a bike/pedestrian or sustainability vision.

“Montclair wants to expand access to our six commuter train stations by providing alternative transportation options and the new Bike Depot is an integral part of this,” said Mayor Robert Jackson. “Not only is it another step toward becoming a more sustainable community by helping reduce vehicle emissions and lowering our carbon footprint, it also encourages residents to adopt a more healthful lifestyle. We thank all our sponsors for their generous support for this endeavor.”


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