Downtown Medicine Hat is full of reasons to get around by bike. Local businesses, public spaces, and a compact street grid make riding quick and convenient. But for years, bike theft and vandalism made that option feel risky. Riders didn’t feel confident locking their bikes downtown, and the city didn’t have the infrastructure in place to change that.
That pushed the city to look for a stronger solution. They didn’t want to put up more racks and hope for the best. They wanted a secure, user-friendly system that would fit into their bigger plans for active transportation. CycleSafe offered exactly that.
From Frustration to Future-Ready
Past bike parking solutions in Medicine Hat hadn’t worked. Exposed racks led to theft and vandalism, and there was no easy way to manage who was using the space or how often. City leaders wanted something that could do more—protect bikes, build rider confidence, and be simple for staff to manage day to day.
With input from the city’s Parks and Recreation team, Medicine Hat chose CycleSafe’s ProPark® bike lockers with app-based access. Not only would they provide enclosed, tamper-resistant protection for bikes, but the digital platform behind them gave staff the ability to manage the system remotely, adjust pricing, and track usage.
Taylor Elderton, Business and Innovation Coordinator with Medicine Hat’s Department of Parks and Recreation, highlighted that the city has nearly 100 miles of biking trails that connect downtown to the area’s green spaces. He added, “This amenity is a natural fit and crucial step to ensure residents can safely store their bikes while exploring Historic Downtown Medicine Hat.”
Smart Lockers That Make Riding Easy
Medicine Hat installed four locker units—each with a door on either side, and a center partition that divides each locker into two individually secured bike parking spaces—for a total of eight secure parking spaces—each with Bluetooth-enabled access and digital management tools. Riders simply reserve a locker through a mobile app, unlock it with their phone, and safely store their bikes while they enjoy downtown.
Meanwhile, city staff have full control through an online dashboard. They can set rental rates, check usage data, and respond to issues, all without needing to be on-site or manage physical keys.
What Makes the CycleSafe Solution Work in Medicine Hat
- App-based Bluetooth access for riders
- Four locker units, each with two individual secured bike compartments
- Supports on-demand access, increasing accessibility for different riders and needs
- Highly engineered features prevent tampering and weather damage
- Dashboard access for pricing, data tracking, and remote management
It’s a hands-off system that still gives the city everything it needs to keep things running smoothly.
Real Results, Right Away
Even with limited promotion, the response was positive. Riders quickly recognized the value of secure, easy-to-use storage. And for the city, the ability to manage everything remotely meant the system could scale without adding new complexity.
Since installation, the lockers have helped:
- Deter theft and vandalism downtown
- Reduce barriers for new or hesitant bike riders
- Offer flexible, low-maintenance infrastructure
- Reinforce the city’s goals around sustainability and more accessibility
A Model for Other Cities
Medicine Hat’s success wasn’t only about choosing the right technology. It was about addressing real challenges head-on, from bike theft to rider confidence, and building a system that’s simple for staff and welcoming for the community.
They also did something many cities struggle with: they chose a solution that’s future-ready. CycleSafe’s lockers support everything from daily errand runs to commuter parking. They’re easy to manage now and adaptable for whatever comes next.
Ready to Bring This to Your City?
If your community is looking for a smarter way to support biking and micromobility, CycleSafe is here to help. Our secure, digital-ready bike parking solutions are built to stand the test of time and the realities of day-to-day use.
