2008 Woodie Awards
Mac Bike outgrowing its frame
Warmer weather means more people out on bikes, but for the Bike Share program, run by Mac Bike, the demand has led to a shortage.
By: Ari Ofsevit
Issue date: 4/21/06 Section: News
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As the air has warmed and the ice disappeared, more and more students have been moseying around St. Paul by bike. And while many students have their own ride, others are using cycles provided by Mac Bike's bike share program—so many that there is a shortage of available bikes.
“I've been running it this whole semester, but the demand really only started in the past couple weeks, when a lot of people have been coming in and wanting bikes,” Dillon Teske '09 said. He is employed by the Campus Center to administer the program.
Mac Bike, located in the basement of 30 Mac, has come a long way since it was resuscitated two years ago. At that time, Jason Tanzman '06 and other students submitted a budget, found the keys to the workshop, and have received about $1500 each semester since then.
Students can check bikes out for up to one week. While most students are rather good about turning the bikes in on time, there have been some who have kept the bikes beyond the limit.
While this was not a problem over the winter, with greater demand it has begun to irk the Mac Bike organizers. They currently have twelve bikes in the program, ten of which are in circulation. One has been taken out for repairs, and one bike has been checked out since November.
According to Tanzman, the bike share should be for short-term use. Mac Bike also refurbishes and sells bikes cheaply, and gives the proceeds to Biciaccion, a program in Quito, Ecuador, which plans on creating a bicycle mechanic program for homeless youth.
The club has led drives for bikes, and currently has dozens of bikes which they plan to refurbish and sell.
Each bike costs Mac Bike $50 or more. The bikes are donated or bought very cheaply from the Sibley Bike Depot, but the cost of a helmet and lock add to the cost of the bikes. Maintenance is performed by Teske.
“I've been running it this whole semester, but the demand really only started in the past couple weeks, when a lot of people have been coming in and wanting bikes,” Dillon Teske '09 said. He is employed by the Campus Center to administer the program.
Mac Bike, located in the basement of 30 Mac, has come a long way since it was resuscitated two years ago. At that time, Jason Tanzman '06 and other students submitted a budget, found the keys to the workshop, and have received about $1500 each semester since then.
Students can check bikes out for up to one week. While most students are rather good about turning the bikes in on time, there have been some who have kept the bikes beyond the limit.
While this was not a problem over the winter, with greater demand it has begun to irk the Mac Bike organizers. They currently have twelve bikes in the program, ten of which are in circulation. One has been taken out for repairs, and one bike has been checked out since November.
According to Tanzman, the bike share should be for short-term use. Mac Bike also refurbishes and sells bikes cheaply, and gives the proceeds to Biciaccion, a program in Quito, Ecuador, which plans on creating a bicycle mechanic program for homeless youth.
The club has led drives for bikes, and currently has dozens of bikes which they plan to refurbish and sell.
Each bike costs Mac Bike $50 or more. The bikes are donated or bought very cheaply from the Sibley Bike Depot, but the cost of a helmet and lock add to the cost of the bikes. Maintenance is performed by Teske.
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