Bike shelter opens at MetroRail station

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Monday Capital Metro is launching a new strategy to get more cyclists to take the MetroRail.

It's called "MetroBike Shelter," and Kramer Station in North Austin is first to try it out.

The station will serve as a model for more shelters CapMetro plans to build over the next two years.

This shelter that opens Monday houses 24 bikes, and initially, CapMetro put 50 access cards up for sale. The cards cost $30 for a year of unlimited use.

There is 24-hour surveillance at the shelter—making sure no one breaks into the bike shelter.\

But cyclists still need to bring their own locks to lock up the bike inside.

CapMetro created the idea of safe bike storage at stops because a lot of people were cycling over to the Kramer Station and actually taking their bikes on board the train with them.

Each bike took up about four seats worth of space. Agency representatives reached out to the Austin cycling community to figure out what was keeping them from leaving their bikes behind — or riding the train at all — and discovered they wanted this type of secure facility.

Cyclists using the bike shelter do have to register with Cap Metro to get the access card. They will help with ID tracking in the event of theft, vandalism, or abandoned bikes.

Another stop along the MetroRail track in Cedar Park will talk transportation Monday night at a town hall meeting about a new mobility model for the city.

It starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the City Hall Building 3.