Connect Cromwell has secured funding for secure e-bike docking stations it hopes will be installed in Cromwell once locations are confirmed, and the group receives the thumbs up from the Central Otago District Council. 

The docking stations are free-to-use app-activated bike racks that use technology from Europe to secure e-bikes while charging them at the same time.

The locking stations can also cater for non e-bikes

The funding for the e-bike stations comes from the Department of Internal Affairs.

Connect Cromwell facilitator Rosanna Ottaway said the docking stations were so secure there had been no thefts from units over the five years they’ve been in use in Europe and North America.

“They run on mains power and have never been broken into, so It’s a secure place to leave your pride and joy while you go to work or do some shopping.

“We are proposing two secure locky dock stations (10 bikes per station) for the Cromwell area,” she said.

“Possible locations are at either end of the mall (Paper Plus and Thai Crom areas).  

“However, with the inevitable mall redevelopment, the Fruit Sculpture car park and Cromwell Swimming Centre could be well-suited locations.”

Connect Cromwell had not considered the Heritage area of Cromwell as a possible location as the stations’ modern look is not in keeping with the historical setting of old Cromwell.

The stations are free to use

“The main barrier car drivers frequently mention when considering switching their daily commute to an e-bike is fears of theft,” a spokesperson for the company distributing the stations said.

“These locks remove that concern while recharging the e-bike simultaneously.”

Further security is provided through CCTV at each station that users can access via the app, making it possible for commuters to check on valuable e-bikes. 

There are locky dock stations in Christchurch, with others in Wellington and Auckland coming online soon.