Hello All,

Spend most my time here on BFSSFG but I've got one that's general bike related. I'm teamed up with a few students at Carnegie Mellon University to design a Bike Sharing Program.

The current bit of research I'm doing centers around the bike itself. I'd like to probe for some ideas of manufacturers and bike models that work well as a low-maintenance, one-size fits all, safe and cheap bicycle choice for a community bike program.

Some of the obvious traits for such a bike are things like a single speed, cruiser/comfort frame, and such. Any suggestions on manufacturers?

Ian

Walmart bikes are cheap and one size fits all.

Folders kinda fit that requirement rather well.

Do not do this. Take all of the money you were going to spend on this, get the abandoned bikes from the dorms, and have a mechanic ride herd over your volunteers as you refurb them and sell them cheap back to students.

You can do fifty times more good with the same resources and have way more fun and learn way more in the process.

This is the voice of experience.

what Kimmit said.... and get in touch with the bike club at WVU for input.