Mohawk students and staff will soon have a more secure option to store their bicycles on campus.

Starting this fall, a student-led initiative will give cyclists the option to buy a membership to a restricted-access bike shelter located just outside C Wing to the east of the main entrance (south). Similar facilities already exist at several city-owned locations throughout Hamilton.

With room for up to 40 bicycles, the shelter will provide bicycle commuters with a safer way to store their bicycles on campus. Members will receive a key fob that has been specially programmed to access the facility. Once inside the cyclists can either store their bike vertically in one of the hanging racks or on the ground in a traditional bike rack. A simple U-lock will secure both tires and the frame of the bike to the racks. Security cameras will monitor the shelter for added protection.

As an added bonus, members will be given after-hours access to city-owned shelters, some of which are located in the downtown core and at other popular locations such as parks and recreation facilities.

The shelter wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for Mohawk students, says Alan Griffiths, Mohawk's sustainability initiatives coordinator. From the initial research, to the pursuit of funders, Mohawk students have led the process from start to finish. The students were successful in accessing shared funding from the City of Hamilton, Smart Commute Hamilton, and Metrolinx as part of its BikeLinx program.

Stay tuned to the Sustainability Office website for more information, including details on how you can become a member.