Pricing

This Best Practices Guide is written with the assumption that bike valet is to be offered as a free-at-point-of-use (or at most, by-donation) service. While cyclists benefit from secure bike parking, the largest beneficiaries of bike valet services are local businesses, event promoters and the local venues they rent, and motorists who save time as roads are less crowded and parking easier to find. It doesn’t make sense to ask cyclists to subsidize these gains.

Concretely, BC Bike Valets find that anything other than free service undermines use. Existing cycle commuters in BC expect parking to be free (if it is provided at all); in the face of a fee for valet parking - all things being equal – they will simply go on locking to any stable structure at their destination, before paying. What is less well understood is what kind of pricing would deter prospective cycle commuters. By one logic, if the cycle curious are already deterred by the perception or reality of theft risk, or by uncertainty about how to securely lock and leave their family cycle trailer and other gear, a fee for bike valet service is just another hurdle. It is also possible that a competitively-priced bike valet offering would prompt some to shift modes. Because the goal of this organization’s work is to make cycling in B.C. safe, practical, accessible and fun for everyone, and free bike valet service has a demonstrable impact on mode shift towards low carbon, affordable travel – which is a key objective for the Ministry of Transportation and Transit – we do not currently recommend offering a fee service.

Free-at-point-of-use still allows valet services to generate revenue. Both event and fixed location valets can offer their services for a suggested donation. When coupled with underwriting investment by event venues, promoters, local governments or business improvement area organizations, valet services can both cover their operating costs and serve as a source of revenue for the local cycling organization that runs them. Event valets seeking to generate profit from a valet service should pay close attention to their program and labor costs.

Average labour cost per hour (2024)

New Event Valet: $84.94

FL Valet: $107.32

Labour cost includes administration and management costs, not just paying staff for a given event or day. Per hour indicates per hour of valet operation.