THUNDER BAY -- The city’s first community bike repair station is already a hit.
About 15 kids were centred around the station fixing their bikes last Thursday, the first day the structure was operational outside the Mary J.L. Black Library on Edward Street.
The station comes with various tools to make basic repairs such as tightening brakes, fixing gears, adjusting the seat or fixing a flat tire.
The city officially unveiled the repair station Tuesday afternoon and active transportation coordinator Adam Krupper said it's a big step forward in Thunder Bay because it's putting cycling amenities in an area people actually cycle.
"We've got a community centre. We've got a library. We've got a school. We've got a park. We've got multi-use trails. This is a place where people bike," he said.
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The station was a partnership between the city's parks, library and engineering departments. The total cost of the project was about $1,000.
The Westfort station is part of a pilot project. Krupper said they're going to monitor how it holds up through the weather and general wear and tear over the summer and if successful, they plan to install bike repair stations in other locations throughout the city.
The next proposed site is near the skate park in Prince Arthur's Landing.
