Status: ONGOING February 2018 -
The McGill Bike Centre project aims to further encourage active transportation as a sustainable means of commuting, while further establishing Montreal as North America’s premier cycling city, by converting the former parking garage of the University Centre into a new Bike Centre for the McGill community. This conversion involves the replacement of the exterior entry ramp, exchanging the garage door for a hands-free pedestrian entrance, creating a shower/change/locker facility, and installing secure bike parking facilities, bike repair facilities and other bike amenities. This project has been conceptualized and financed as a partnership between the University and the SSMU to meet the needs of the entire community.
Read the full project description
Reducing greenhouse gases is a pressing priority at McGill. Commuting emissions account for 12% of McGill's total GHG emissions, (2015 GHG Inventory). Concretely addressing & decreasing these emissions means better supporting active transport for the McGill community. Outdoor bike spaces are currently at capacity, are for short-term storage and are not accessible through winter. 39% of cyclists believe there is not enough bike parking available at McGill, and 56% would strongly support secure, indoor facilities
By providing year-round, secure, indoor bike storage along with locker & shower facilities, McGill students, staff & faculty will be encouraged to bike to campus. The Bike Centre would decrease barriers that currently discourage community members from biking to campus. For example, by creating secure bike parking locations, we can ensure active commuters can safely keep their bike & belongings on campus without worry. Longer-term storage options for bikers means that they can adapt to weather constraints. Access to changing rooms & showers would mean that individuals can both actively commute (both short and long distances) to work or school and change clothing and prepare for the day. This is especially important when considering barriers for long-distance bikers, who often opt to drive, train or bus instead.
This project specifically addresses current physical limitations related to the lack of bike parking spaces (including a lack of variety), and would facilitate community members to bike to campus. We hope that the creation of the McGill Bike Centre will pragmatically shift perceptions - from community members listing reasons that biking is not a feasible option, to seeing that campus is addressing barriers. This project also aims to relocate the community-run Flat Bike Collective into a purpose-built space which allows them to better engage the community and provide improved services. Overall, this facility will help encourage active transport and reduce emissions, while demonstrating McGill's commitment to sustainability and the bike community.
Furthermore, this project will be the first of its kind in Montreal and will hopefully inspire others in the Montreal community, in addition to McGill's transient student population, to replicate the infrastructure (in Montreal and beyond).
Resources from the SPF will be used to contribute to the execution of the project.
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McGill Office of Sustainability Students' Society of McGill University |
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Contact
paul.guenther [at] mcgill.ca (Paul Guenther)
