Kelowna-based company launches bike rack to deter theft

A Kelowna-based electric bike company has brought the new state-of-the-art bike racks used across the USA and Europe to the Okanagan.

To launch the racks into the local market, E-Kruise has donated and installed its first Bikeep at one of downtown’s most high traffic stores, Safeway on Bernard Avenue.

“We definitely wanted to have one available first in our own backyard,” says Ashton Olsen, the founder of E-Kruise.

“Soon, we look forward to installing even more bike racks locally and nationally.”

Bikeep by E-Kruise is a parking station designed to help deter bike theft with a multi-layer security system featuring a smart locking mechanism, high decibel alarm and mobile app network or contactless card for accessing the bike rack.

“Bike theft is a huge problem in our province, and with e-bikes growing in popularity, it is even more important to safeguard all types of bikes with secure and easy-to-park solutions," Olsen adds.

Kelowna saw an 18% increase in stolen bikes last year, according to a 2022 RCMP annual report.

“The Bikeep bike racks are some of the best bike racks I’ve seen on the market because of the way it offers riders a few layers of protection, from the smart dock, steel bar, to the alarm and mobile network," Olsen explains.

Should an attempted bike theft occur, the alarm, which is internally wired to the steel bar, will sound and alert the rider, the Bikeep by E-Kruise team and the RCMP.

“Our hope is that Bikeep bike racks will inspire even more people to ride bikes and/or e-bikes confidently, especially in urban neighbourhoods,” Olsen says.

The bike rack parking stations also include an e-charging dock and are affordable to use.

E-Kruise will introduce the service for free for the first three months for all users, leading into a pay-per-use fee of $1 or a monthly subscription price of $8 for local riders.

“We are already in conversation with several municipalities about potentially installing Bikeeps in their cities," Olsen adds.

Companies and organizations interested in Bikeep by E-Kruise can connect with them here.

For more information about Bikeep by E-Kruise, click here.