School is almost out for summer, and the trial bike share program at Bailey hall in Brody Neighborhood has seen significant student participation since its implementation in March, prompting ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, to seek expansion of the initiative.
Assistant Director of the MSU Office of Campus Sustainability Kris Jolley, who has been working with ASMSU to implement the trial bike share program, said the bikes at Bailey hall are being used a decent amount and are rented about 40 times a week in total between the eight available.
Jolley said he hasn’t met with members of ASMSU yet to discuss details of the expansion, but he did say there is mutual interest in expanding the program.
ASMSU has met with Tim Potter, manager of the MSU Bikes and Service Center, to discuss possible details of expansion, but Potter said the final implementation and details have to be discussed between ASMSU and Jolley.
Newly elected ASMSU Vice President for Finance and Operations Calvin Manitowabi said ASMSU is hoping to provide 40 additional bikes at five additional locations on campus by next fall, although the locations will have to be discussed and agreed upon by Residential Education and Housing Services.
Manitowabi said ASMSU is meeting with REHS this May to discuss available space for bike racks, but the ideal locations for new bike racks include East Neighborhood, South Neighborhood, West Circle, near Shaw hall and an additional bike rack in Brody Neighborhood.
The bike share program has undergone massive changes since ASMSU allocated $60,000 for its implementation in 2013 in conjunction with a bike rental company called Zagster.
The bikes are now being provided by MSU Bikes and Service Center and the bike share program is being overseen by MSU’s Office of Campus Sustainability and ASMSU.
The $60,000, which decreased to about $55,000 after the implementation of the trial program at Bailey Hall, is still meant to fund any and all expansions of the bike share, and no additional money has been allocated, Manitowabi said.
“The usage rates are encouraging, and, together with ASMSU, we will continue to evaluate how to best move forward,”Jolley said.
