Resident proposes six bike lockers at Dillon Mobility Hub; board asks for site plan and funding details

Carl Stang, a Manitou Springs resident, presented a proposal to install six bike lockers at the Dillon Mobility Hub and asked the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) board to consider funding installation costs. Stang said the proposed location is just west of the mobility and parking office, south of the restrooms, and that the lockers would provide secure weather-protected storage for employees, incline users and other residents.

"The proposal is to add bike lockers at the Dillon Mobility Hub," Stang said, describing user groups and examples from the Denver area. He provided a cost range of "$2,000–$3,000" per locker for basic units and offered a draft total installation estimate of about $30,000 that included a concrete pad extension and modest installation labor.

The proposal outlined several administration options: an unlocked locker model (users provide their own lock), a keyed rental system managed by parking staff, or an electronic key/app-based access model. Stang said he had discussed the idea with Felipe in the mobility and parking department and had a verbal commitment for operational support but no written agreement.

Board members pressed for details on operations, maintenance, enforcement and funding. One member asked who would cover repairs or vandalism; Stang said he had not identified a dedicated repair fund and suggested routine graffiti could be handled by code enforcement. On enforcement and abandoned items he described likely terms of service: after an allotted time the city would remove a bike, hold it in temporary storage and dispose of or donate it if unclaimed.

Several members questioned whether URA funds should be the primary source for a facility the city would operate. A board member noted that Hiawatha Gardens is slated to include bike lockers and suggested the URA wait to see that model. "I think it's a great service, but I just don't think we should fund the whole thing," one member said, urging partnership with the parking enterprise or city and recommending a minimal user fee to offset ongoing costs.

Members also requested a site plan and expressed concerns about aesthetics and visibility; lockers are functional but not attractive, they said, and must be sited to avoid obstructing pedestrian flow. The chair and staff asked Stang to return with a site plan, clearer cost-sharing proposals, and suggested policy language for rental terms and enforcement.

The board provided feedback and direction but did not vote to allocate funds at the meeting. Chair John said staff would follow up and the item may return once the city’s operational plan or the Hiawatha Gardens implementation provides a clearer model for shared costs and policy.

What’s next: the URA asked staff to gather a site plan, written agreement or letter from mobility/parking on operational support, and a refined cost and funding proposal (including possible user fees or parking-enterprise contribution) for a future meeting.