Free Bike Valet During Fireworks

The City of Vancouver wants residents and visitors to see the light — and is offering a service it hopes will make things easier.

In a bid to reduce the glut of cars during this summer's Celebration of Light fireworks exhibition, the city and a group called Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) will be offering a free "bike valet" service.

The plan calls for spectators to ride bicycles on the four exhibition nights — Wednesdays and Saturdays from July 23 to Aug. 2 — and check them in at no charge at the tennis courts at Kitsilano Beach or at Lost Lagoon.

There, an attendant will take the bike, along with contact and security information and give the rider a tag — much like checking a coat at a restaurant.

Since most vehicles carry no more than two people to the fireworks, Cameron Reed of BEST said Friday, the service could keep up to 500 cars off the road.

The bike valet option eliminates the hassle that can take the fun out of watching the fireworks, he added.

"You don't have to carry it around at the beach; you don't have to worry about where you parked it. Leave your bike with us worry-free until the event's over and then enjoy a leisurely ride home."

The city will be watching the project closely — it's a pilot project for a similar program planned for the 2010 Olympics.