Locky Dock Stations Come to Campus

The Toi Ohomai Windermere Campus is the first Tauranga location to install a free, lockable e-bike charging station, thanks to Big Street Bikers. 

The campus now has eight fully lockable e-bike charging stations, thanks to a collaborative effort by Toi Ohomai kaimahi Dean Ellery, the Windermere facilities team, and Big Street Bikers - and their innovative Lock Dock charging stations.

Big Street Bikers is a nationwide electric mobility network, and they're on a mission to enable more people to ride e-bikes, more often. Part of that mission involves supplying and installing charging stations, called Locky Docks, around the motu for people to charge their e-bikes – for no cost to the user.

Dean learned about this initiative during a local sustainability meeting and recognised the potential benefit it could bring to the ākonga and kaimahi at Toi Ohomai. He connected our facilities team with the Big Street Bikers team, leading to the installation of these charging stations. Big Street Bikers provided the necessary equipment with the only cost to the campus being the electricity requirements.

Toi Ohomai Facilities Operations Coordinator Marais Osborne says the charging stations are a great way to encourage ākonga and kaimahi to commute in an environmentally friendly way, while also getting some physical activity into their day. 

Big Street Bikers co-founder Cleve Cameron says the company “couldn't be more excited” to have arrived in Tauranga and to welcome Toi Ohomai to their tertiary network.

“We know there is demand for safe and secure parking facilities. Normal bikes can be used in the docks too. The dock is activated using the Bikeep app and once you get the hang of using the locking arm, you never go back."

To use the Locky Dock charging station, users can easily download the app either on Apple or Google Play, then go to the dock, lift the arm and place your bike. When the lock beeps you know you have locked in correctly. All docking stations are securely locked, and anonymised surveillance cameras have been installed, thanks to the support of Big Street Bikers, ensuring the safety of the charging stations and users.

Already rolled out among other tertiary institutes, Toi Ohomai plans to closely monitor the usage of these charging stations. If they prove to be popular, this initiative may be extended to other campuses, further promoting sustainable transportation options.

Check out this video about Locky Docks, including details on how to use, and a case study of the rollout in Christchurch.

If you would like to learn more about Big City Bikes, and the Locky Dock initiative, you can read more on their website.