As a parting gift to the U, the ASUU Senior Council will establish a bicycle rental program on campus. The Ubike program will include 30 red beach cruiser bicycles, a temporary structure near the Union to house the maintenance shop and a bicycle repair class provided through the course catalogue.
The cost estimate changes daily because the logistics of starting the program are still in the preliminary stages, said Madison Warren, Associated Students of the University of Utah senior class president. However, Warren estimates the first year of the program will cost about $33,000.
The Senior Council will purchase bikes from the Collegiate Bicycle Company, which has provided custom beach cruisers to dozens of campuses across the country, including Texas Agriculture and Mechanics, Mississippi State University, University of Vermont and University of California, at the Davis, Santa Barbara and Irvine campuses. Warren said the cost for each bike is $220.
“We’re trying to make this affordable,” Warren said. “We’re also accepting used bicycles.” The bikes will be painted in-house to save on the cost, she said.
“It’s smart,” said Jason Davis, a junior in psychology and communication who commutes to campus on a bike. “I hope it helps get people into bikes.”
However, Trace Wilson, a sophomore in political science, said he doubts cruisers are compatible with the campus terrain.
“Cruisers would be tough on this campus,” Wilson said. “It’s so hilly. Try climbing up to the dorms when your arms are way up here on the cruiser bars.”
Tom Fleming, a senior in classics, said that whether or not the rental cruisers have multiple gears to shift between, cruiser seats are set too far back and the handlebars are too high to be functional for climbing hills.
“It’s (a) bad idea,” Fleming said. “They got gigantic handlebars and a relaxed geometry. That’s not going to work well for this terrain. A beach cruiser is meant for cruising on the beach.”
The Senior Council is asking for $20.09 donations to Ubike from graduating seniors and $400 donations from businesses in the area. Alma Allred, the director of Commuter Services, said his department has offered to match the donations that the Senior Council raises, up to $15,000.
With a $400 donation, a business or individual can sponsor a bike. The business or personal name will appear on the top tube for the life of the bike.
“It’s cheap advertising,” Warren said. “If the bike gets stolen, you’re out of luck.”
U academic advising and the local frozen yogurt shop Spoon Me have each decided to sponsor a bike, according to Warren and Meagan Kline, a senior council member.
The U Alumni Association has received one used bicycle donation so far and no monetary donations have been made aside from the bike sponsors, according to Joanne Beardshall, the program manager for the Alumni Association who is in charge of collecting donations for the Ubike program.
The Senior Council will unveil 15 of the new cruisers on Earth Day, April 22, said Kline, who is in charge of the event. The council will offer test rides on the bikes and a bike parade at 10:30 a.m. and host a bike-in movie screening of “The Dark Knight” at 8 p.m.
