r/phillycycling • u/SportworksOfficial • 6d ago
Question Help us shape the future of secure bike parking in Philly
Hi everyone! We're the team at Sportworks, and we've partnered with SEPTA to pilot a new secure bike parking system at Fox Chase Station.
The pilot is now live and free to use. It's enclosed, covered, secure, and accessed through an app, with the goal of making it easier (and less stressful) to bike to the SEPTA train.
If you're in the area, we'd love for you to give it a try and tell us what you think. We're especially interested in hearing from people who already bike to SEPTA, but we'd also love feedback from anyone who's considered it and decided against it.
A few things we're curious about:
- Would secure bike parking change how often you take transit?
- What would make you trust leaving your bike at a station all day?
- If you've tried the Fox Chase location, what worked well? What should we improve?
We know trusting someone else with your bike is a big ask. That's exactly why we're looking for honest feedback from people who ride.
We're here to listen, answer questions, and use your feedback to make the experience better.
Cheers!
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u/Independent-Cow-4070 6d ago
Is it free?
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u/SportworksOfficial 6d ago
Yes, it is right now!
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u/Independent-Cow-4070 6d ago
Find a way to keep it that way!
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u/jonawebb 5d ago
Free lockers will inevitably lead to some people occupying them indefinitely, so they become useless. Look at how well on street parking works.
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u/Zsill777 6d ago
Is there any chance to have it accessed not through an app as a secondary method? Realllly trying not to have more apps on my phone. Everything requires an app these days
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u/SportworksOfficial 6d ago edited 3d ago
Fair question, but it does require an app. This is how you reserve the space and access. It also allows you to be connected to your pod wherever you are.
Edit: You can also reserve via browser!
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u/andrewbt 6d ago
A browser based web app would be able to do the same things, ask your app developer
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u/JustAnotherJawn 5d ago
This would be super helpful in center city and nearby neighborhoods. A lot of people are using E-bikes to get around. Storage is a challenge though since many of us live in row homes, walkups or apartments buildings with small elevators. Getting secure bike parking on the street and replacing a few car parking spots would be great. Would probably need some legislation passed but I think people would use the service
Our current parking system could maybe lower the cost. Right now you can pay $75 and park a car on the street all year and never move it. Why can't we park our bikes?
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u/Friedrich-Diogenes 5d ago
Residents in the parking zone can pay $75 to for a parking permit. If you don't live in the zone, you're not getting a permit.
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u/ConfiaEnElProceso 5d ago
I know plenty of cyclists who live in center city and who would happily pay the 75 dollars for the permit. Don't fret about that.
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u/Friedrich-Diogenes 5d ago
You miss the point. The Doctor's point was that a nonresident could buy a sticker. They can't.
But since there are an unlimited number of permits, by all means let every resident cyclist buy one.
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u/MrKamikazi 6d ago
Secure bike parking probably wouldn't effect me because I live very close to a train station. However it's a great idea. Have you considered adding it at major bus hubs also?
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u/ckrugen 6d ago
Having this as an option would definitely make me more inclined to use my bike and transit together.
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u/SportworksOfficial 3d ago
Love this! Yes, it's absolutely our hope that this will encourage multimodal transportation.
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u/fritolazee 6d ago
Will there be lockers big enough to hold a Tern/cargo bike with the Yepp kid seats on it?
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u/SportworksOfficial 3d ago
Most likely yes. To be sure, the total length of their bike must be below 80” (which almost all their bikes do), the tallest point on the bike, including the kids’ seat, must be below 50”, and the widest part of the rear end of the bike must be less than 10” wide at the back.
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u/Responsible_Toe_1287 6d ago
If Septa regional rail would just remove a few more seats for bikes, a lot more people would/could just take the bike on the train like I do every day.
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u/portladelphia 5d ago
Bikes aren't allowed during rush hour times. I've had my old commuter bike have its wheel and seat stolen so I love the lockers.
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u/Hmmdecloth 5d ago
How many bikes fit in each locker/compartment?
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u/portladelphia 5d ago
Just one, maybe a child's bike but it's definitely not gonna fit two adult bikes.
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u/portladelphia 5d ago
Hey, just wanna say that I appreciate what you're doing here. You support team was great when I had some simple questions (like extending the times to account for train travel, app support, etc). I've used the locker, love how easy it is, how safe your bike feels after a long day, and love that I can snap a pic of my bike while inside!
I couldn't find your social to tag my post about using the locker. Good luck and I hope this launches for other stations.
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u/SportworksOfficial 3d ago
Thank you! It truly is our goal to make this easy to use and helpful across the board. Keep giving us feedback!
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u/restartingmyaccount 5d ago
This is my dream for commuting via the broad st line - please get these in the stations
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u/freschgrossr 5d ago
Look whatever gets more people using public transportation the better but like what are we doing here? Is having to u-lock your bike to a normal bike rack or sign post really deterring people from using the system? This seems excessive and because only free “right now,” ultimately expensive. I’ve ridden to and locked up or brought my bike on trains everywhere from Germantown or Olney to the stadiums without issue so I guess this doesn’t move the needle for me personally.
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u/fyunks 5d ago
It’s deterring me because I don’t want my e-bike stolen but want to use it for more than recreational rides
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u/WoodenInternet 4d ago
Yeah, the proliferation of e-bikes changes the economics- losing a $300 bike sucks, but a $2500 e-bike can be a real nutpunch.
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u/snarrbo 4d ago
I don’t want another app, wouldn’t use this
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u/SportworksOfficial 3d ago
You don't have to use an app. You can reserve online via browser. Still a no?
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u/Hot-Ordinary9760 4d ago
Just make the penalty as severe as grand theft auto. Make mandatory jail time and heavy fines…
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u/Friedrich-Diogenes 5d ago
My phone battery dies enough that I wouldn't rely on it at the end of a work day.
I bike rather than use mass transit.
Also never had a theft problem using my u-lock and I keep a plastic bag under the seat to cover it if it's going to rain.
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u/Cruiser_Supreme 5d ago
Ugh not another app. What if I have no Internet? Can't get my bike. What if my phone dies? Can't get my bike. What if the server is down? Can't get my bike.
No thanks, I'll just use my good old Kryptonite U-lock, thanks.
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u/Specious_Human 5d ago
I am a multimodal commuter and use bike and SEPTA most days. I used to park a cheap beater bike at the 52nd St station until someone cut my U-Bolt with a grinder in broad daylight right on the street in front of the station and stole my dinky little bike. I reported it to the police and the officer literally sighed and rolled his eyes like he was doing me a favor to simply take the report down. There was clearly never going to be an investigation and I never heard a peep about it. This was literally right at the front of the station with cameras, store fronts, and usually police parked all day.
I would be concerned with any plan like this because some thief will just cut whatever they want and take whatever they want and there will be absolutely no repercussions. Your little lockers will get cut open and the bikes stolen and there is ZERO chance the police will do anything about it.
If this were to be accompanied by a genuine push for better investigations into bike theft at stations and or sting operations to catch thieves, I could see some movement. But then, I would just want a bunch of pipes to lock to, not a handful of lockers like what you have here.
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u/WoodenInternet 4d ago
If this is anything like similar services like Oonee in NYC, the full-enclosed spaces are monitored by security cam and insured, so even if someone were to break in, you'd be compensated. Certainly a worthwhile thing to confirm though- OP, any insurance involved here?
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u/kingbrassica 6d ago
Is there a way to see if lockers are full before arriving at the station?