This year so far, 96 eLocker spaces have been installed at Caltrain stations in Belmont, Redwood City, Lawrence, Moutain View and San Jose, part of a broad effort to improve bicycle storage on the system.
By 2023, Caltrain will install a minimum of 632 eLockers at most stations, with the option to purchase up to 718 additional eLockers depending on customer demand and available funding.
What’s so good about these eLockers? In the past, Caltrain rented lockers with keys to individual users. These new eLockers don’t require a key and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, providing more flexibility and availability to lock up your bike, according to Caltrain.
An eLocker costs $.05 per hour, with night and weekends priced at $.02 per hour.
Berkeley-based eLock Technologies, LLC is providing the technology. Caltrain committed to invest at least $3 million in wayside bicycle improvements in conjunction with the system’s Electrification Project. Caltrain’s Board of Directors approved the contract to expand eLockers last September.
More information about accessing and using the eLockers is available at www.bikelink.org.
“Prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Caltrain served approximately 10,000 bicyclists every weekday,” according to Caltrain. “Ten percent of customers typically bring their bike onboard. Survey data has found that many of these riders do so because they do not have a secure place to leave their bike at the station. This effort will provide those customers with an easy to use, secure facility and help alleviate some of the demand for bike space on trains.”
Photo: Caltrain
