E-bike stations for Christchurch
Ten central Christchurch bike stands where e-bikes and e-scooters can be locked and charged up for free will be operational in early June.
It is the first stage of plans for a national network of such charging stations, with rentto-own schemes for e-bikes and solarpowered workshops further down the pipeline.
Called Locky Docks, the galvanised steel locking stations from Europe have been set up at 10 sites within the four avenues after spending level 4 of the Covid-19 lockdown in storage. They were brought over by Kiwi company Big Street Bikers.
The docks have been set up through a public-private partnership, and Christchurch City Council also contributed $50,000.
Advertising on screens at the Locky Docks will subsidise their costs to keep them free for public use.
Co-founder Cleve Cameron said the docks ‘‘marks the arrival of a healthy transport
option in a time of physical distancing’’.
The docks can be used by those with electric or regular bikes, as well as electric scooters. Locks are built into the docks and are opened or closed using an app.
People wanting to charge their bikes need to bring their own charger, as there are too many types to make it practical to provide a full range onsite. Charging is free.
CCTV cameras would be set up at each dock as extra security.
The NZ Transport Agency is setting up bike path maps to be displayed on screens at the docks. It is funding research into how the docks are used and what effect they have in Christchurch.
Action Bicycle Club co-founder Ken Ching said it was time people on bikes had access to better infrastructure such as secure parking, which would encourage more bike usage.
He said during lockdown, people walked or cycled without fear of cars.
‘‘Let us not return to business as usual and flatten the other curve — the humancaused climate crisis. ’’
Life in Vacant Space Trust trustee Paul Lonsdale said Christchurch was well placed to take advantage of the docks because the city had a significant cycleway network.
Big Street Bikers currently operates a solar-powered workshop called the Rechargery in Auckland, where it also rents e-bikes.
The timing and location of getting docks into other cities was still being confirmed.
‘‘Let us not return to business as usual and flatten the other curve — the human-caused climate crisis. ’’
Ken Ching
Action Bicycle Club co-founder