Students to bring bike share to U of C

By Chris Adams, March 26 2015 —

Five University of Calgary students are looking to make two-wheeled transportation to and from campus a little easier next fall.

U of C Bike Share, organized by students Robyn Perras, Gavin Schneider, Pat Shier, Amy Bruce and Meagan Windle, hopes to bring a handful of bicycles to campus for students to rent and use free of charge.

Students would be able to loan the bikes for two to seven days and pedal around town until their rental is up.

There are no restrictions on where students can travel, as long as they return the bicycle on time.

Perras said the idea for a campus bike share came from programs like Montreal’s Bixi, where private companies charge a membership fee to use bikes they provide. Bikes are parked at any of the company’s stalls throughout the city.

“That was our original idea but right now we can’t afford it. Maybe [we could start something like that] in a few years,” Perras said.

Students would be required to give their credit card information when they sign up to ensure that un-returned or damaged bikes will be paid for.

Perras said they hope to buy the bikes at the end of April and have the service running by September.

“We’re trying to get around eight bikes. It’s a convenient way for kids to get around. Buses are so unreliable and the train isn’t really that great,” Perras said.

The group originally wanted more bikes, but they’re short on funding. Perras said they’ve been in touch with used bike shop Good Life, hoping they’ll provide the bicycles.

As of now, Perras said if “it’s safe and it’s a bike,” they’ll take it.

Perras said they’re hoping to partner with Bike Root, which operates out of the Arts Parkade.

“During the winter, we’ll store the bikes in there. We’re also talking to the people who are in charge of zoning from the university,” Perras said.