News

Minnesotans to repair bikes at kiosks

May 15, 2011

Bicyclists in Minneapolis may soon have access to bike-repair kiosks, according to the Southwest Journal.

Alex Anderson and Chad DeBaker, who are co-owners of Bike Fixtation, told the journal that they have tentative agreements with owners of The Wedge and Metro Transit to install one machine outside the natural foods cooperative and another inside the Uptown Transit Station,

In early May, the men were still seeking city approvals for both locations, but Anderson expected the machines to be in place as soon as June.

He said the kiosks would be stocked with items like inner tubes, tire-patching kits and lights. Other items could include ponchos, maps, and some food and drink items.

"I know I've needed a tube at 11 p.m.," Anderson said in the interview.

While the machine outside of The Wedge would operate 24 hours a day, access to the second vending machine inside the Uptown Transit Station would be cut off between midnight and 5 a.m., when the station is locked, according to the story.

"We're kind of testing out these two locations because one has a lot of bicycle traffic, and that's The Wedge, and the other location, the Uptown [Transit Station] has a lot of bicycle traffic, but it's a little less convenient to get to," Anderson said in the interview.

Repair stands would be installed next to the machines, with hex wrenches, tire levers and other tools tethered to the stands and instructions for common repairs printed on the machines, he said. The repair stations will also include electric tire pumps.