University to begin bike loan program

The Marshall University Sustainability Department is putting together a bike loan program set to start this fall.

Margie Phillips, sustainability manager, said she is excited to see it in working order for next semester.

"Students can check out a bike, ride it anywhere they want, then bring it back," Phillips said. "It is another alternative than using your car that can save on greenhouse gases."

Phillips said she thinks the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health will increase bike usage in the area.

"Once the bike path goes in, this program could be huge," she said.

Phillips said the trail would be close to campus and extend from Guyandotte, W.Va. to Kenova, W.Va.

"It is a 26 mile bike and pedestrian trial that will run along the flood wall," she said.

Phillips said a lot of other campuses already have similar programs in place.

"Students are assisting in the research of how other universities are providing this service to their campus," she said.

After researching, Phillips said most schools use a waiver form for the liability and insurance coverage.

"Once a student checks the bike out, it will be his or her responsibility," she said.

Phillips said the Sustainability Department plans to provide the bicycles, locks and helmets.

"I would like to start out with at least six bikes," she said. "We are looking for single speed and possibly three speed."

Phillips said the department had two bikes donated to start the program and they may use the Green Fee to buy the others.

In order to use the Green Fee to purchase the bikes, Phillips said she would have to present it to the Greening Marshall Committee and they would have to approve.

Philips said the Green Fee would also be used to purchase the locks, helmets and meet safety regulations.

"It is important that students be involved in this decision," Phillips said. "It could be really helpful to those students that don't have access to other forms of transportation."

Will Shields, junior parks and recreation major from Smithfield, R.I., is one student who walks to campus.

"I think it would be a good service to students and promote better living to those that don't have another mode of transportation," Shields said.

Phillips has been in contact with Andy Darling, associate director of facilities at the Marshall Recreation Center, about using the facility to store the bicycles.

"There are a lot of potential positives," Darling said. "It might bring different users into the facility."

Phillips and Darling are still in the preliminary stages of planning the program.

"We would like to participate but we might not have the physical space," Darling said.

Phillips has also talked to Jeff's Bike Shop about training students on repairing bikes.

Phillips said it could create two paid positions for students if the training classes happen.

"We would have one person to check the bikes out to students and one person to repair and keep the bikes maintained," Phillips said.

Haley Thaxton can be contacted at thaxton21@marshall.edu.