By: Richard L. Smith
Summit commuters and cyclists now have a new, secure option for storing their bicycles. City officials, alongside NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition (NJBWC), have officially opened the Summit Bike Depot at the NJ TRANSIT train station.
The facility, which accommodates up to 32 bikes, offers weather-protected and vandalism-free storage monitored by video surveillance.
The project is designed to make cycling to the train station or downtown Summit safer and more convenient.
“Cycling to the train station is a convenient, healthy, and cost-effective way to commute,” said Mayor Elizabeth Fagan during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The new Summit Bike Depot makes it easy for residents to avoid the hassle of finding parking or arranging drop-offs, while giving them a safe place to store their bikes before boarding their train.”
The opening event on September 21 featured Mayor Fagan, former Mayor Nora Radest, community members, and project sponsors, including The Summit Conservancy, Summit Foundation, PeopleForBikes, Bristol Myers Squibb, and the Langworthy family.
Memberships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, priced at $30 per month or $300 annually. Participants receive a key fob for entry and are asked to secure and remove their bikes after each use to ensure space for others.
The program, launched by NJBWC in Montclair in 2014, has since expanded to Bloomfield and now Summit, providing communities with safer, sustainable transportation options.