The Crimson Cruisers program at IU is a bike-lending program that hopes to provide free bikes to students, staff and faculty each semester.
The IU Office of Sustainability, Transportation Working Group and IU Outdoor Adventures made the program possible after deciding to recycle and restore old bikes back to mint ?condition.
Henri Venable, intern at IUOS, noted how the idea of the program came from a number of people but was also inspired by the University of Kentucky Wildcat Wheels program and the Fort Collins bike library.
Venable also said that, once the idea was formed, the support came in and the process began to move along.
The program just recently completed the pilot stage.
“The summer pilot went really well,” Venable said. “We had 10 riders, or ‘ambassadors,’ who together covered more than 800 miles with their bikes. We had a great mix of faculty, staff and students with a variety of interests regarding bicycling. Some wanted to lose weight, some used them to get to work, some to mountain bike and others to haul their ?groceries.”
“The goal of the bicycle initiative internship, generally, is to encourage a shift in transportation habits away from single occupancy vehicles and toward more active and sustainable transportation, like biking or walking,” Venable said. “The hope is to change transportation habits and preconceptions by introducing people to alternatives and demonstrating their practicality in a way that is wholly personal and tangible.”
When renting a bike, riders also receive a helmet, lights, lock and a bell to ensure that all state and local laws are met.
Riders are not required to pay to rent the bike or supplies, but they are held responsible for returning the bike in good condition.
IU Outdoor Adventures assists in this effort by providing free maintenance on the bikes as needed during the semester. IU Outdoor Adventures trip leader Aryn Doll discussed the process of bike maintenance.
“When you apply, if you get accepted, you get a free tune-up throughout the semester,” Doll said. “But if it needs attention, we will help you.”
IU Outdoor Adventures trip leader Bridget Masur said riders are also required to take a safety class to help prepare them for situations, such as adverse weather, but it was noted that riding in certain conditions is the rider’s decision.
“It’s personal preference,” Masur said. “I wouldn’t ride in icy conditions because it isn’t safe. It’s definitely possible to ride in the winter, but riding in ice isn’t a good idea, ever.”
Although the program is fairly new, Venable said he is already thinking about future plans for Crimson Cruisers.
“Expansion, plain and simple,” Venable said. “I would love to see the CC library move into a dedicated space on campus with room to hold more bikes and possibly serve as a workshop where students can learn bike maintenance and work on their own bikes.”
