New on-campus program offers free bicycle travel

    A bicycle rental system on campus will help the Murray State community in campus transportation.
    The Bike Share Program, now known as Racer Bike Share, will allow students to take a University-issued bicycle from one rack, ride it to their destination and then drop it off at a new rack, Taylor March, junior from St. Louis, Mo., and head of the Alternative Transportation Committee, said. Another student can then take the bicycle to another rack in this trade-off system.
    At the Sept. 30 SGA executive board meeting, Kara Mantooth, SGA president, said Murray State already bought 10 single-speed cruiser bicycles to initiate the program.
    SGA worked with Murray Environmental Student Society and Student Affairs for the Bike Share Program, March said.
    Mantooth also said a committee  of students and faculty is being formed for the system.
    On Oct. 8, the Racer Bike Share Committee met to discuss the execution of the program.
    The Racer Bike Share Program could be launched as early as the end of this month, possibly at the Sustainability Conference Oct. 28, March said.
    “I can’t afford my own bike,” Tia Johnston,  sophomore from Leitchfield, Ky., said. “I think it is a good idea, and I would use it.”
    According to the minutes of the Racer Bike Share Committee’s last meeting, bike racks will eventually be located at Winslow Dining Hall, College Courts, Regents and White colleges, between Wilson Hall and Wrather Museum, the new Science Complex, Faculty Hall, Ordway Hall, Waterfield Library and behind Mason Hall and Carr Health.
    “For now the bikes will be placed at the normal bike racks around campus,” March said.
    The bike racks will be distinguished from normal bike racks and will also have signs with the rules and regulations for bike use, the Bike Share Committee members decided during their meeting.
    “I doubt I would ever use it, and I have to wonder how they’re going to keep these bikes from being stolen,” Kyle Kineman, junior from Paducah, Ky., said.
    There will be no student registration required for usage of the bikes at first, March said, but it could come later.
    “The program will largely be based on the honor system and people’s good nature, but I honestly don’t think there will be many problems with bike theft as several deterrents have been put in place,” March said.
    All of the bikes will have Murray State paint schemes, March said.
    The Murray State police will also engrave the bicycles for further identification purposes and anyone in possession of one of the bikes off campus will be charged with theft, March said.
    Students will ride the bicycles at their own risk, March said. If a person uses the bike, then that person takes responsibility for his or her own safety.
    Despite this, the committee is still working on a liability release for the Bike Share Program, he said.
    There are currently 10 bicycles. March said if this programs works well there is every intention to further this program.
    Contact Thornton at casey.thornton@murraystate.edu.