Bikeep Bike Parking Pilot comes to the Wilson Building

Bikeep Station at the corner of D and 13 1/2 Street NW
Image: BikeSpecific

The Council of the District of Columbia Secretary send an email to workers in the John A. Wilson building, the District's "City Hall", about a new pilot bike parking program sponsored by Bikeep.

"Tomorrow, October 16, 2018, the Council will begin a pilot program for bicycle parking using an innovative mobile app-based bicycle parking system created and manufactured by Bikeep. It will be the first such bicycle parking station installed in the District of Columbia. The Bikeep station is located on 13½ Street and will accommodate 5 bicycles at a time. During the pilot, use of the station will be limited to employees in the John A. Wilson Building. The station is being supported by Bikeep and is free-of-charge to building employees."

Bikeep’s CEO, Kristjan Lind visited the Wilson Building on Wednesday to discuss the program and answer questions.

Mr. Lind explained that Bikeep fills in gaps in the bike parking network where traditional bike parking fails. For example, Bikeep system is modular and doesn't require installation in concrete to be effective, allowing administrators to easily add or remove bike parking stations. The system also allows schools and business that have abandoned bikes to easily remove those bikes just by using the system's app.


Below is additional information conveyed in the government email:

What is Bikeep?
Bikeep was founded in 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia to encourage sustainable transportation alternatives options and increase security for bicycles. Bikeep offers a secure, connected, and integrated solution for bicycle parking to meet increased demand for bicycle parking. The system allows station sponsors to monitor and assess bicycle parking usage and statics through a customized admin portal. It also allows them to send automated messages to users. Currently, Bikeep is being used around the world, including by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in San Francisco.

Why is the Council installing a Bikeep station?

According to U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people using a bicycle to get to work nearly doubled in the District of Columbia, between 2010 and 2015. By 2015, the District was tied with San Francisco and trailed only Portland and Minneapolis with 4.0% of workers using a bicycle to get work every day. Bicycle commuters in the District increased to 4.3% in 2016. These figures are dramatically higher (16%) when “occasional cyclists” and those who use a bicycle to get part of the way to work before transferring to another form of public transportation are considered.

This increase in bicycle commuting, while exciting and beneficial, has also increased demand for bicycle parking. The existing bicycle racks on 13 ½ Street, NW are frequently occupied by non-Wilson Building employees and are inaccessible to District employees that commute via bicycles. Bikeep provides an innovative and technologically sophisticated solution to this problem.

How does it work?

During the initial pilot, the Bikeep station on 13 ½ Street, NW will utilize smartphone apps or call-in numbers to lock/unlock one’s bicycle. In the future, integration with Metro’s SmartTrip card is possible.

Bikeep’s easy-to-use app can be downloaded for free on iPhone and Android devices at the iTunes App Store and Google Play respectively.

What will it cost to park my bicycle in the Bikeep station?
During this pilot, Bikeep will be offered free-of-charge to employees in the Wilson Building. It is anticipated that future stations at the Wilson Building will be open to the general public without a fee. In commercial situations, Bikeep only charges for the purchase of the station. While a station can be restricted to certain users by the sponsor, there is never a charge to the users to park a bicycle.

Are Bikeep stations secure?

Yes. The locks used on Bikeep stations utilize a specially designed, industrial grade galvanized steel bar that is impossible to saw through. Bikeep stations are equipped with a security system that is triggered if a bicycle theft is attempted. The system features a loudspeaker and will forward distress signals to the appropriate local security service. Currently, Bikeep stations have been used for over 1 million parking sessions without a single theft.