Welcome to Portland State, and whatever the most recent arbitrary national rankings claim, the most bicycle-friendly city in the nation. As you peddle your way over bridges crossing the mighty Willamette on your commute to the PSU campus, you might occasionally run into mechanical problems—a broken spoke, a slipping chain, or ineffective brake pads. When bicycle maladies befuddle the PSU commuter, the Bike Hub is there to respond.
Bike Hub
The PSU Bike Hub, at 1818 SW Sixth Ave., offers courses in basic bicycle maintenance that are free to all PSU students, faculty and staff. The Hub also boasts benches of intricate toolery fabricated for every minute ache and pain your pedal-powered pony could possibly encounter, available to you just because you’re a member. Couple the bicycle maintenance classes offered on multiple occasions with the arsenal of tools and technicians available, and you might just incidentally acquire a degree in bicycle maintenance alongside that bachelor’s in psychology.
Fortunately for you, incoming PSU Viking, sweet amendments mark the opening of this year’s Bike Hub amenities.
“Beginning this fall there will be no annual fee to make use of our services,” said Bicycle Program Coordinator Clint Culpepper. “All currently enrolled students will be able to attend any of our classes, come in for one-on-one instruction and receive a discount on everything in the store.”
Membership holds real value to the seriously green-minded scholar. There are six secure, dry indoor parking locations throughout campus offering safety and convenience for all kinds of weather and special occasions, with none of the stress or expense of public parking.
Biketown
For many students who rely on Trimet, bicycle commuting might not be the most efficient means of getting from home to class. Enter Biketown, Nike’s new city-wide bicycle rental membership program that offers quick commutes without clogging up the world with one more car and without walking the distance between your bus stop and your destination.
PSU students receive a hearty discount on Biketown monthly bike rental memberships, and Clint Culpepper is enthusiastic about the advent for PSU students.
“We are close to confirming what the price will be for students,” Culpepper said, acknowledging that the student price will ultimately be a great discount compared to present consumer membership fees.
Biketown, the new system of orange two-wheeled leviathans parked at 100 locations throughout the city offers monthly bike rental memberships at discounted rates for students. For ease and convenience, nothing presently compares. For those who would walk from Goose Hollow or Northwest, a Biketown membership could be a major time saver.