Bike App, along with the Office of Sustainability and Alternative Transportation Sub Committee, collaborated on a grant to make bike repair stations possible. REI provided the funding to buy the tools and University Recreation provided the funding for the installation.
In total, there are seven workstations, two were installed last year and the rest were installed in September.
“Our goal by providing these resources is to promote cycling in the area because we have found by talking with students that significantly more students have bikes than ride them, largely due to the fact that they don’t know how to fix their bike or they have a flat tire and they don’t know how to replace it,” Chris Bartram, graduate assistant in charge of Bike App, said.
Bartram said their research found that drivers are the primary cause of air pollution, yet about 75 percent of cars commute two miles or less per day.
“We submitted this proposal in an effort to promote cycling and in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint,” Bartram said.
Although Bike App has not been tracking how many people use the tools, Bartram said he has heard many people say they use the tools regularly and their location on campus makes maintenance convenient.
The tools come with a QR code that links to instructions for those that don’t know how to work them.
Bike App currently has five students employed, with compensation coming through University Recreation
Bartram said Bike App started off on an entirely volunteer basis, but after writing a proposal that was reviewed by the Office of Sustainability and the chancellor, they were given some university funding for biking initiatives.
This funding allows them to pay staff to help out on Sanford Mall and run educational workshops.
Bartram said last year they received a grant for free helmets and were able to give out 20 free helmets to cyclists and skateboarders.
“It’s important to be conscious of our impact on the environment, also biking is a large component for health and wellness,” Bartram said. “I think biking is one of the most effective ways to solve a large number of our problems on campus, such as parking and traffic.”
Story by: Halie Hamilton, News Reporter