September 12, 2024
In Foothills Medical Centre’s new Cycle Centre are, from left: Danielle Simonot, Dr. Kelly Zarnke, Michael Suddes, Cathy Williams, Jen Sullivan and Quincy Fung. Photo by Blain Fairbairn.
Story & photo by Blain Fairbairn
CALGARY — The new Cycle Centre at Foothills Medical Centre (FMC) is giving staff, physicians and volunteers a compelling reason to ride to work and leave the car at home.
This indoor bike storage facility features 24/7 security surveillance, climate control and room for more than 170 bikes. Its state-of-the-art racks have can accommodate a wide variety of bicycles including e-bikes and fat-tire bikes. Staff commuting by personal scooter, electric or conventional, can also use the space.
An avid cyclist and a general internist, Dr. Kelly Zarnke welcomes the new Cycle Centre.
“Biking is my main form of transportation,” he says. “I arrive early and so it hasn’t been a problem to find a space in the central storage room, but when I leave it’s often full with bikes doubled up — so clearly the need is there. “This new space is amazing — it’s brightly lit, heated and secure — so I hope it will encourage more people to bike to work.”
Annual bike counts supported the need for expanded bike storage; ridership to the site has grown more than 30 per cent over the past five years. With its July opening, the Cycle Centre adds to the dedicated bike storage facility in FMC’s Central Parking lot, the outdoor pass-secured cage and the numerous traditional bike racks spread across the site. With the addition, FMC can now accommodate more than 600 bikes across the site.
Jen Sullivan agrees. A move lead for the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, she rides to the site throughout the summer and, when possible, during the winter. Sullivan previously locked her bike up using an outside rack or the cage but, after having her lock cut and her bike stolen at another site in Calgary, she’s taking advantage of the heated, indoor space at the Cyle Centre.
“This is beautiful. It’s super spacious, easy to manoeuvre around other bikes and the wall-mounted locks are really convenient and easy to use,” she says.
“There are also tools and a pump right near the door — so it’s really well thought-out.”
Michael Suddes, site director, notes that the Cycle Centre is a prime example of how healthcare facilities are getting creative making the best use of precious space.
“It's brilliant to have wonderful new structures like the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, but the future of healthcare facilities will require us also to be very creative and thoughtful about how we repurpose existing space” he says.
“Our Capital Planning, Facilities and Parking Services teams spearheaded this initiative and have demonstrated tremendous leadership in transforming what was a maintenance shed into this first-class amenity we have today. We are really impressed with the work they’ve done and, as a cyclist myself, I’m excited to make use of it as much as possible.”
