Photo by Tanaha Simon
Have you ever felt exhausted trekking across campus and thought that there must be a better method of transportation from Harris to Freeman? If you’re not one of the fortunate ones who own a golf cart or a Segway, don’t despair. Spokespeople will soon implement a new program that will allow students to borrow bikes stationed outside of the library.
Spokespeople received funding that will allow them to execute their plan for a bike-lending program at Conn. This idea was inspired by a similar program at St. Olaf College in which students can borrow bikes from their library, just as they can books.
Soon, anywhere from six to ten bicycles will be available for daily rental in a designated bike-rack outside of Shain Library, and checking out a bike will be as easy as checking out a book. The bike-loan will go on your account, just as a book or movie would, and you must sign a liability release form. Then, the library staff will hand you the key.
When the bikes are not in use, they will be locked outside the library, and when students return the bikes at the end of the day, they should lock them up and return the key to the library staff.
“This process is not only simple for students, but it’s an easy way for Spokespeople to keep track of the bikes,” said Spokespeople member Andrew Greaves ’13.
There will be bikes available for every occasion, and they will be available to both students and staff who don’t want to spend money or maintain their own bicycles all year-round. Six bikes are already primed and painted for use. Spokespeople want to develop a semi-uniform look for the bikes, so that they can be easily identified as CC Cruisers.
“They’re blue and white and have awesome stenciling,” said Spokespeople president Celia Whitehead ’11.
Part of the reason for the program is to make more bicycles available to students, allowing them to go off campus. Since the Spokespeople members are only at the shop at two designated times during the week, a daily rental system allows students to obtain a bike whenever they want. Any time the library is open, students can rent a bike.
“We’ll have bikes equipped for riding downtown, mountain biking, or just cruising around campus if you have a really busy day. The idea is to make bikes available to all students and staff who don’t want the responsibility of taking care of a bicycle 24/7,” said Whitehead.
“For anyone who can’t afford to have their own bike or can’t bring one to school because of traveling, I think it’s a really good idea. It’s great for riding into town,” said Molly Bienstock ’14.
The members of Spokespeople will be working hard to have the bikes ready by the spring so students can enjoy them and explore the surrounding area. The members of Spokespeople said the program aims to promote biking and as Greaves said, “to [get students to] realize how close we are to the beach and to downtown.”
Although the CC Cruisers is only a pilot program, Spokespeople members hope that plans run smoothly and allow for an expansion of the program each year. As Whitehead put it, “we want people to be complaining that there are not enough bikes.” •
I would LOVE to donate to this program,
Biking saved my life and I have a large amount of bikes
And or parts to donate thanks,
Rubberside down