Biking to events in Kamloops just got more convenient — and secure.
The Kamloops Bike Valet is a city service that offers portable bike racks, tents and other supplies that event organizers can borrow to offer complimentary secure bike parking.
Like a coat check, the Kamloops Bike Valet sees bikes tagged, with owners receiving a claim stub. Event personnel and volunteers watch over the parked bikes so participants can enjoy the event worry-free until they bring their stubs back to claim their bikes.
The service was made possible via a $23,500 donation from New Gold’s community investment fund and through collaboration with the Kamloops Cycling Coalition and other groups working to increase active transportation in the city.
The Kamloops Bike Valet is in use at Saturday Kamloops Regional Farmers’ Markets downtown and will also be available during the Memorial Cup tourney, at the north side of Cunliffe House at Riverside Park.
Hours of operation during the Memorial Cup:
Friday, May 26: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, May 27: noon to 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 28: noon to 7 p.m.
Monday, May 29: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday, May 30: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, May 31: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday, June 1: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, June 2: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The valet program at the farmers’ market is made possible via a partnership between New Gold, the City of Kamloops, Youth Climate Corps BC and BC Hydro.
“As e-bike use continues to grow, driven in part by their ability to reduce barriers to biking like topography and distance, we see the need and demand for secure bike parking increasing,” said Glen Cheetham, the city’s climate and sustainability manager.
In 2022, the Kamloops Cycling Coalition initiated a successful pilot program that saw bike valet services pop up at events like Ribfest, BrewLoops and Canada Day.
“A spinoff of a people-led solution to enhancing bike security is the community conversations it creates about cycling in Kamloops, hopefully fostering a commuter cycling culture that builds upon our love for recreational biking,” said Kamloops Cycling Coalition board member Deb Alore.
To learn more about the Kamloops Bike Valet, please contact sustainable@kamloops.ca.
