Advocacy & Safety - Bike Share Program

I heard something from my aunt about my college starting a bike sharing program on saturday, thinking that would be neat to use them to get to the farther buildings on campus. So I'm heading to the student center after a marching band rehearsal on tuesday and I see a photographer taking some pictures of people posed in front of a bike that was painted neon yellow, and see there are a couple more neon bikes in one of the bike racks.

I found out that are 8 bikes in all (one is a tandem). I've been waiting to use on when when I have a a class in a far off building, but there have been no bikes nearby when I needed it. The only thing I don't like about the bikes (without having ridden them) is that there's only one brake, and it's a rear coaster brake. I think that might be dangerous on a crowded campus sidewalk.

I don't think anyone would steal the bikes because they actually want a neon yellow bike. I just worried that someone will steal them just to be a jerk. I hope it works out. Anyone else's college campus try this?

Here's some info: http://maverickland.unomaha.edu/?p=790 http://www.unomaha.edu/bikeshare/index.php

a break? how many breaks do you need to ride across campus. Sounds like you need to get in better shape

a break? how many breaks do you need to ride across campus. Sounds like you need to get in better shape

It was a typo, chill out. Brake and break sound the same. I think you know what I meant.:notamused:

Hope it's successful and that they can add more bikes in the future. Assuming the campus area is pretty flat I don't see a problem with single-speed bikes that only have a coaster brake - and it simplifies maintenance and theft concerns. Looks like the tandem at least has a front hand brake - not sure why they don't want to have it ridden solo - I do that frequently with mine.

Similar programs in other areas have frequently run into vandalism problems, especially when there are no controls on who is using the bikes. Even the recent 'Velib' program in Paris has reported significant vandalism and theft although their system requires users to use a credit card for access to the bikes (first half hour of use is free):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9lib%27

8 total bikes might be a good start, and it might only be a program for someone to pad their resumé.

DC's bike program is a bit like Paris's Velib, but the bike stations are rare and not very widespread. They're good for riding within the small downtown area, but if the intent is to go from one side to the other, you'll spend half the distance just getting to and from the bikes and not riding them. Because of its tiny scale, I can't call it a bike sharing program, and have instead labeled it as "resumé padding".

Just now noticed that you're in my hometown. :D Wonder where they got the bikes from.