Metro Set to Install On-Demand Bike Lockers at South Kirkland Park and Ride

Bus riders who like to bike to Metro transit centers have a new option for storing their bicycles.

Metro introduced on-demand "eLockers" at nine transit centers around King County last week and says it will install four of the lockers at the South Kirkland Park and Ride when garage construction is complete.

Cyclists who wish to use the lockers must pay $20 to purchase an access card and 5 cents per hour to store their bike.

Bike lockers are already available for monthly rental at 27 transit centers, but Metro predicts the on-demand option could result in a fivefold increase in locker usage across the system. The new program gives cyclists the option to store their bike at different Metro transit centers, as well as at eLockers in Portland, Ore., Vancouver, Wash., and the Bay Area.

In addition to the South Kirkland Park and Ride, the following Metro transit centers are equipped with the new lockers: Aurora Village Transit Center, Eastgate Park-and-Ride, Issaquah Highlands Park-and-Ride, Kenmore Park-and-Ride, Northgate Transit Center, Renton Transit Center, South Renton Park-and-Ride, South Sammamish Park-and-Ride and Tukwila Park-and-Ride.

Metro has entered into a three-year agreement with eLock Technologies to use the lockers and says it will be evaluating the program's effectiveness during that time. The lockers were funded through a federal grant, according to the transit agency.

More info is available here.

Would you pay 5 cents an hour (plus the $20 activation fee) to securely store your bike at a Metro transit station? Tell us in the comments section.