Campus bikes return

Jan Beukelman ‘06, Scott Schmidt ‘06 and Jon Homans ‘06 take advantage of campus bikes and Sunday’s 70 degree weather to parade through South Campus.

by Linn Davis

After a two-year absence, public bikes returned to bike racks across campus last Thursday. Some have already faced vandalism.

Four students, including SGA Administrative Coordinator Mike Maloney ‘06, worked resulted in the purchase of the 20 new, bright yellow Atlas Industrial bikes last summer. SGA and Student Affairs split the $1800 cost.

Four to five bikes will be kept at the Forum and can be checked out for personal use for 48-hours at a time. The remaining 15 are scattered around campus.

Craig Cooper, owner of Bikes to You, helped pick the model and order the bikes. He said they are meant to be useable by everyone—hence the step-through frame and quick-release seats—as well as be “simple and durable.” The bikes have steel frames, corrosion-resistant chains, and sturdier wheels, spokes, and tires.

The significant fender and frame dents, popped tires, and loosened bolts on several bikes are not a result of normal use, said Cooper. “They are probably next to the most durable bicycles that can be purchased. Wear and tear did not damage those bicycles; it was blatant vandalism.”

Five to ten bikes are currently sitting in SGA offices waiting to be fixed. “I think it’s unfortunate,” said SGA Student Services Coordinator Drew Blackman ‘05, who oversees the campus bike program. “It isn’t something we foresaw.”

Some bike seats have also been taken. According to SGA Vice President Rebecca Miller ‘05, some of the seats have been brought back to SGA offices. SGA is considering buying seat locks to alleviate this problem.

A similar program failed two years ago after many of the bikes were vandalized or stolen or fell into disrepair. This time, however, Blackman will be hiring one or two students to maintain and keep track of the bikes.

Previously, “the biggest problem was they didn’t have anyone to maintain the bikes,” Blackman said. “That’s important to me, to keep the program running.”

The bikes were also a hassle for SGA, said Blackman, as many of them ended up in disrepair, indefinitely set aside in the SGA offices. A new work and storage space will soon be opened in Gates 4012, a former single, according to SGA President Mark Henry ‘05.

Both SGA and Vice President for Student Services Tom Crady hope that the recent purchase of new bikes, as opposed to the used, orange-spray-painted bikes bought in the past, will encourage people to keep them in better shape. For the most part, they said the program has been working well.

“People are dedicated to maintaining the program,” Blackman said. “Everyone seems to be really excited.”

According to Maloney, plans are already in the works to purchase more bikes later this semester or next year. The college also will apply identifying decals, he said.

“I think now that they’re out there, students are really enjoying them,” said Crady. “People have come up to me and said ‘thank you,’ which doesn’t happen very often.”

Anyone interested in helping maintain the campus bikes is encouraged to contact Blackman at [service] for more information.