Town holds drawing for Bellmore bike lockers

Five Bellmorites were recently among the eight winners of a Town of Hempstead lottery for bicycle lockers at the Long Island Rail Road station in Bellmore.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Town Clerk Nasrin Ahmad held the drawing on April 7 to determine the winners of eight free bike lockers. Councilwoman Angie Cullin, Councilman Gary Hudes and employees of the recently opened Merrick Bicycles were also on hand to congratulate the winners.

Now in its third year, the town’s bike locker program provides residents with a place to store their bicycles while commuting via the LIRR. The lockers are part of the town’s clean energy plan, which encourages residents to commute to work in environmentally friendly ways.

The lockers, which are on the north side of the train station, are four feet tall, six feet long and 3¼ feet wide. Each locker fits a standard bicycle, protecting it from damage, theft and bad weather.

The eight winners of the bike locker lottery, each of whom will receive use of a locker for one year, are:

• Adele Godfried, of Wantagh
• Paul and Krystyna Falbo, of Bellmore 
• Kenneth Patrey, of Wantagh
• Jeffrey Cohen, of Hempstead
• Kevin Lonergan, of North Bellmore
• Matthew Niklavesh, of North Bellmore
• Fara and Seth Augustover, of Bellmore
• Jennifer Jaszczak, of North Bellmore 

There is a $40 key deposit, which is refunded at the end of the one-year lease. No sub-leasing is permitted.

Ahmad and other town officials thanked Merrick Bicycles, which provided free front and rear bike lights to each of the locker winners. Merrick Bicycles, which is now open for business on Merrick Avenue, will hold its grand opening on April 11.

Dan Yuricic and Michael Hammer, the shop’s owners, said they were proud to partner with the town to offer the prizes. “As biking enthusiasts, we think it’s great that the town is providing a safe place for residents to stow their bicycles, as well as encouraging pedaling over driving,” they said in a statement.