In the fall of 2016, Boston College will introduce an on-campus bike share. Bike BC, the student organization for the bicycling community on campus, held a barbecue on Sunday in The Mods to introduce the pilot program.
The event featured a free bike repair clinic and safety session from Galen Mook, who does marketing and advocacy for Landry’s Bicycles. It also celebrated the end of the club’s second year at BC.
Students who want to rent a bike will first have to attend a bicycle safety session. Bike BC is partnering with O’Neill Library, which will keep the keys for the bikes. Students will receive a key from the Library and will be able to unlock a bike from the rack in the Comm. Ave. Garage. Each bike will be equipped with a lock, a helmet, and safety lights. The group hopes to have all 10 bikes available for rent in the fall. The club received the funds for the bikes from Student Organization Funding Committee, and the bikes were purchased at a discount from a local bike shop.
Bike BC holds three group rides each semester along the Charles River Esplanade and the Arnold Arboretum. The group also holds safety clinics and maintenance sessions for bikers.
The main purpose of the event was to promote the group’s bike-share pilot program to students who are interested in bicycle rentals. The pilot program will run through May 17.
“The idea is to eventually provide every student with the opportunity for free,” Ryan Saunders, co-president of Bike BC and CSOM ’16, said.
The event was also created to show the administration the amount of student interest in the program, Saunders said.
“We are trying to prove people are interested in biking around campus,” Saunders said. “They don’t have the knowledge or means to do so. We want to show the administration that people are interested in biking.”
Featured Image by Julia Hopkins / Heights Editor
