PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson Transit bus and bicycle riders will be able to store their bikes in secured lockers at Haines Place Park and Ride after Oct. 15.
Record Jefferson Transit ridership has at times overloaded bike-carrying racks on the fronts of buses to the point that bus operators are forced to carry bikes aboard buses.
“While the transit agency has had bike racks on buses for many years, it is only recently that the number of bikes transported on a single trip has started to exceed capacity by as much as 300 percent,” said Dave Turissini, Jefferson Transit executive director.
The first six-unit locker, with key-locked doors was installed Friday at the park and ride, with the lockers available free of charge after Oct. 15.
More will be installed at Tri-Area locations to be decided in the coming weeks, he said.
Discussions are under way with the Jefferson County Library, H.J. Carroll Park and the Port Hadlock post office as potential locations, Turissini said.