Metro Debuts New Smart Bike Lockers at Nine Stations

New Metro on-demand electronic bike lockers cost just 75 cents for the first 12 hours. Download the BikeLink app for easy access

By Joe Linton

4:10 PM PDT on May 9, 2024

New on-demand Metro bike lockers at Wilshire/Western Station. Photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog

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This morning Metro launched its new on-demand electronic bike locker system. Smart lockers, operated by BikeLink, are currently available at nine stations (below), with additional stations being rolled out.

Metro's parking chief Deputy Executive Officer Frank Ching told Streetsblog that the newly installed smart lockers are already being used around a hundred times a day.

On-demand bike lockers now available at some Metro stations

This morning's Metro bike locker launch at Wilshire/Western Station

For many years, Metro station bike parking has been problematic. Basic inverted-U bike racks are not secure. Relatively secure enclosed lockers are available at many stations, but to use them cyclists have had to apply and pay well in advance, sometimes facing long wait lists. Just five stations have secure high-capacity Bike Hubs.

In 2018, Metro boardmember Mike Bonin authored a motion directing the agency to figure out how to improve station bike parking. A 2019 assessment gradually led to 2022 approval of the current revamp.

BikeLink lockers are already in use in many locations, including the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, and even UCLA. Today BikeLink representative Jake Massler demonstrated how the system works. He stressed how smart on-demand lockers have been shown to serve five times the number of cyclists that non-shared systems do.

The system is easy and quick to use. Cyclists can easily download the BikeLink app, register (adding a payment method), and access a locker within a couple minutes. Folks without smart phones or credit cards can use a pre-paid debit card. (Future TAP card integration is planned.)

A yellow circle tells when the locker is empty and available (though the status is also clear in the BikeLink app)

Find instructions at Metro's The Source or the BikeLink website.

Security Features

Metro and BikeLink monitor lockers (via a closed circuit camera) to ensure lockers are used properly.

Each locker includes a substantial chain that cyclists can lock to (though locking inside is not necessary, as the main security is from the metal locker door).

BikeLink's Jake Massler shows the optional internal chain cyclists can lock to

Bike Locker Cost

Bike locker use is cheap - just 75 cents flat rate for 12 hours - but, after that, a hourly rate gradually increases in order to encourage turnover.

Metro bike locker rental rates - via The Source

Most bike lockers are a standard size, which can generally accommodate two regular-sized bikes. A few lockers at each station are larger size, which costs slightly more (one dollar for 12 hours), but reportedly fits many cargo bikes, trailers, etc.