Bike sharing programs have sprouted up on college campuses everywhere – from the University of New England in Maine, to NYU in New York City, Southern Illinois University, to Washington State University and the University of Alaska, as well as universities and colleges in Mexico City, Montreal, Paris and Barcelona.
About 90 universities and college campuses around the country already offer bike share programs or are introducing a bike program as a way to reduce the amount of cars on campus and alleviate parking issues. Parking and traffic are problems that universities everywhere face. Two years ago, the University of New England in Maine increased parking permit fees and gave away free bikes to freshman students. The catch: students could not bring cars to school.
Kathleen Taggersell, university spokeswoman says the school has converted a 95-space parking lot into a basketball court with a river-view tent for college events. Ultimately, the common goal of bike sharing programs is to find ways to accommodate limited parking, reduce the traffic congestion at the university and help the environment by reducing greenhouse emissions. Universities with a bike share program also increase the college community feel with less traffic and more walking and biking. University bike share programs are typically funded by student fee or a grant, but bike programs vary from school to school. Universities may offer free bike sharing programs or bike rental programs, some require membership to the program as well. Other schools have bike giveaways or partner with bike shops to offer discounts on the purchase of a bike.
Emory University’s bike program partnered with Fuji Bikes and Bicycle South; the bike shop provided 50 bikes that are loaned at no charge. University students also enjoy a discount at Fuji bikes and receive a free bike helmet, lock and lights from the college. Emory University has plans to increase its fleet by 70 additional bikes and add four check-out points for a total of 10 spots students can access bikes.
NYU’s pilot bike share program gives students free access to a fleet of 30 bikes. Students can check the bikes out at their residence halls or other location around the University, ride the full day, and check the bike back at another open location.
Washington State University is going high-tech with an automated system for its bike sharing program. The WSU Green Bike program has 72 bikes which are available for 24-hours at a time; 40 mountain bikes are available for 7 days. WSU students swipe their student ID to unlock the bike without relying on a staff member. The convenience has dramatically increased the success of the University’s bike program: between 400-500 bikes were checked out in the first several weeks of the fall term as compared to just under 600 bike riders in 2009.
Bike sharing programs are one way colleges are responding to student demand for affordable or alternative transportation and sustainability. With high fuel costs and a slow economy, universities and colleges countrywide are looking for ways to lower costs, avoiding new construction of parking lots - which makes a bike program a winning proposition for everyone.
