VikeBikes gives students cheap bike option

Transportation can be a headache. Have you ever wanted to simplify your commute with a bike but couldn’t figure out the logistics or couldn’t afford to buy your own bike?

The Bike Hub is trying tofix that problem for Portland State students. The VikeBikes program, started by a group of students awarded a solutions generator grant in 2009, was picked up by the Bike Hub at the beginning of this school year.

“We definitely hope that more people discover it and take advantage of [the program],” said Clint Culpepper, supervisor of the Bike Hub. “It’s something that we think is successful and should continue to be successful.”

To get the bikes VikeBikes rents out, the Bike Hub finds abandoned bikes on campus and fixes them up to meet city bike standards. Culpepper estimates that the program finds around 15 bikes abandoned on or around campus every year. VikeBikes has more than 20 bikes in the program right now of many different types and sizes.

“On average, we spend anywhere between $50 and $100 on each bike.” Culpepper said. “We fix them up to a level that we feel is sufficient for being reliable for everyday transportation. So it is definitely up to a pretty high standard.”

The purpose of the program is to give students a short-term option for transportation. Not everyone has the financial option of buying a bike, especially when a student only needs a bike for a term or two.

“We would like it to fill the niche for students that aren’t 100 percent committed to the purchasing of a bicycle,” Culpepper said. “A typical bicycle is between $500 and $600, and for a lot of students that is not financially feasible. It doesn’t make sense for them to do that if they are only going to be here for a year, to spend that kind of money and have to sell the bicycle at the end of the term.”

VikeBikes only has seven of their 21 bicycles rented out this term. With nicer weather on the way, Culpepper hopes that number will increase during spring term and even more so during the summer.

“We will expand it as is necessary,” Culpepper said. “With the weather being as it is and not a lot of people knowing about it, we are happy with the number of bikes that are out now. I would imagine through the summer most of them will be out.”

Students can rent bikes for $45 on a per quarter basis.The bike rental comes with a membership to the Bike Hub, which allows you to bring a bike in for any maintenance issues or even just to learn more about the bike. The program also gives access to one of Portland States four secure bike garages.

Students at Portland State who are interested in the VikeBikes program can visit the Bike Hub or check out their website at pdx.edu/bikehub.