On-campus bike library proposed

Alternative transportation is always encouraged by Cal Poly and the city of San Luis Obispo. The city’s Rideshare program and the University Police Department’s Commuter and Access Services help students, faculty and staff get around in other ways besides driving their cars.

A group of Cal Poly seniors is taking that standard to a new level.

In trying to encourage alternative transportation, especially to and from campus, the group of five students have proposed creating Re:nt Cycle, a “bike library” on campus. The group, Free Wheelin’, is comprised of students in EDES 408, Implementing Sustainable Principles. The class is the capstone course for students minoring in sustainable environments.

“The goal was to do a project that was somewhat realistic but also on the edge a little bit,” said Stephanie Green, an architecture senior who is working on the conceptual project.

The bicycle library would allow students, staff and faculty to check out a bicycle on campus and to take it home with them, just like a library book. The bicycle could be kept for seven days, at the end of which it would have to be returned or renewed. Patrons would be asked to provide their own locks, but would be able to check out a bike light for nighttime riding.

According to the group, only 16 percent of students and 10 percent of faculty and staff bike to school daily. This is in comparison to the 32 percent of students and 60 percent of faculty and staff who drive alone to campus every day.

The library’s inventory would initially consist of donated cycles, and would eventually move toward a more uniform and recognizable design with Cal Poly colors.

“We would love to have a fleet of some sort,” said Chris Kornblatt, microbiology senior and Free Wheelin’ group member.

The group also hopes the convenience of a bike would be a more appealing option than taking the bus, especially for students who live relatively close to campus.

“With a bike you have the flexibility of leaving whenever you want,” said Kornblatt, who rides his bike two and a half miles to school every day.

Green also rides her bike to school daily, unless it’s pouring rain.

“I enjoy it a lot,” she said, adding that it allows her to spend a little time outdoors each day. Green said she is a firm believer in keeping the environment clean, so riding her bike coordinates well with that goal.

The group’s main challenge in getting the project off the ground would be to prove a need for the bike service on campus, Kornblatt said.

The biggest task is “to actually show that the students want it,” he said.

Jenny Hiser, an architecture senior and group member, will be taking the project into an individual study class next quarter to work on it further.

Other universities already have similar established programs. The University of Kentucky has a program called “Wildcat Wheels” that provides free bike transit to any student, faculty or staff member.

Kornblatt noted that other societies hold biking and alternative transportation in a much higher regard.

“In the U.S., we grew up with the bike as a toy,” he said.

Kornblatt hopes the library would encourage more participants in an already strong bike community on campus and would reduce the number of cars on campus.

“It’s for the environment, and in a way for the next generation too,” he said.

The group’s quarter-long conceptual project will be showcased and critiqued today from 7:15 to 10 p.m., along with all the other environmental design projects in the Berg Gallery, which is located in the Architecture building, room 105. Students as well as the public are welcome to the exhibition.