Even if the rain hadn't held off for the bike barn’s grand opening on the government dock Wednesday afternoon, attendees would have been covered. The three-walled structure is for keeping bikes and scooters dry while owners walk onto the ferry and into town.
Mayor Gary Ander and some of the high school students who helped build the TransLink-funded shed cut the ribbon.
“This is a really really good example of a collaborative project,” said Ander before cutting the ribbon.
Councillor Rob Wynen, who has been a vocal supporter of the project, said that the nearly 50-foot long shed will allow Boweners who would usually drive to work, park their scooters in the dry space and walk onto the ferry.
Councillor David Hocking agreed, “All these spots represent parking spots [in the cove] and on the ferry,” he said. “This is for everybody.”
The municipality’s building inspector, Greg Cormier, led the North Shore carpentry first year apprenticeship students in building the barn, made entirely from Bowen lumber. Local designer Mike Lightbody donated professional works. Cormier said that he tries to find community projects for his students to do every year and that last year it was a project at the children’s centre.
Council members joked after the ribbon cutting it was a coincidence that the barn could double as an excellent bar roof for the annual fire fighters Dock Dance.
Yet to come are roof-top solar panels for scooter charging.
