The Ballston Bike Center & Commuter Store project will triple the number of bike parking spaces at the Ballston Metro plaza to 150 as well as shelter the bikes from the elements. The project will also relocate
the Ballston Commuter Store from a low-trafficked corner on the second floor of the Ballston Mall to within steps of the Ballston Metro escalators. Preliminary drawings are in from the architect, Tony Velasquez, which are shown here.
The Ballston Bike Center will provide a kiosk with the new bike map (which is presently in design) as well as information on the BikeArlington program. There will also be a bench for cyclists to sit while preparing for their ride home. Ambient light will shine through the clear shelter, however, additional solar-powered LED lights will provide more security.
Finding American vendors of bike shelters is difficult as the market is not developed. Most bike shelters in the U.S. are bus shelters converted for the use of bikes. Look around most Metro stations with bike parking and you'll see what I mean. In wanting to both have an aesthetic design as well as to help the fledgling American bike shelter industry, we're working with Creative Metalworks of Oregon. Bike circle racks will also be provided for additional parking.
The Ballston Commuter Store will provide all of the same services as other locations, with a walk-up window and expanded hours to meet the higher demand which the location will likely provide. Monitors with the upcoming trains and buses will be displayed for transit-riders on the plaza.
The racks will be double-decker, for parking on two levels. The bottom level will allow bikes to simply be rolled in and then locked to a fixed object with the cyclist's u-lock. The top level requires a handle to be pulled, rolling out the track, which then pivots 45 degrees downward towards the cyclist, allowing for easy placement of the bike. Reversing this process puts the bike in place for the cyclist to lock it up. The rack manufacturer is the German company, Josta.
Paul DeMaio is Bicycle Promotions Manager for Arlington County's BikeArlington program and will get you on your bike.
Way-to-go Arlington, I am very excited about this project, keep up the good work.
Posted by: J Price | April 06, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Cool bike-parking shelter design.
Will Ballston get public bike lockers? What's the status of getting real bike racks and lockers for the Crystal City Metro and VRE stations?
Posted by: Allen Muchnick | April 06, 2007 at 02:26 AM
What a great innovation! Bike shelters. They should install these at all metro stations throughout the region.
Posted by: Kristina | April 05, 2007 at 10:35 PM