Student bicyclists soon will be able to stow their bikes in 20 new metal lockers at two locations on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus.
Ten bike lockers have been installed at both the Oliver Tower and the Taft Street parking garages. Each locker holds one bike, and has room for storage of equipment.
“The lockers keep bikes safe and out of the elements, and there’s a small amount of space for helmets, inner tubes and other gear,” said Cheri Soileau, director of Transportation Services.
The lockers will be made available for the summer on a first-come, first-served basis later this spring. Students will have to reapply to rent the lockers for the fall semester, and each semester after that. The lockers will be rented for periods of one semester at a time.
The student-funded lockers are part of the University’s Master Plan. In 2012, students voted to approve a self-assessed student fee to support implementation of the master plan.
Another student-funded project will result in covered bicycle racks near Sorority Row. The racks are being installed as part of a paved, lighted parking lot. The lot will have 175 spaces for vehicles. The racks will be able to hold about 40 bikes.
Earlier this semester, the outer two lanes of St. Mary Boulevard, between Taft and St. Landry streets, were converted into bike lanes.
The bike lanes involved a joint effort between UL Lafayette and Lafayette Consolidated Government. The University provided $70,000; LCG designed and installed the bike lanes.
Upgrading bike amenities is part of a comprehensive, ongoing effort that includes longer-range plans for more lockers, racks, and bike stations.