Hit the road, for free, with Brandeis' new bike rental program

'DeisBikes was developed by students

Now that spring is here, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of ‘DeisBikes, Brandeis’ new bicycle-sharing program. It was created by a group of students from professor Laura Goldin’s Greening the Campus and Community class, as a way to offer the campus community an eco-friendly, alternative means of transportation.

“This is the first time there’s been anything like this at Brandeis,” said Susan Paykin ‘11, one of ‘DeisBikes’ founders, during the program’s launch event in March. “People are so excited. I’ve talked to a lot of students who have told me they have a bike at home that they ride all the time, but for students who live on campus, this is not the most convenient place to have a bike. This is going to make it so much easier to continue riding here.”

After receiving funding for the project from the Student Union, Paykin and her classmates purchased used bicycles, and had a local bicycle repair shop tune them up.

Professor Laura Goldin said the bicycle rental program is emblematic of what she hopes all students take away from Greening the Campus and Community. “What the students learn in class is not just how to design a good project and how to address the natural resource demand issue," Goldin said,  "but they also figure out how to design a project that can work and is realistic. And the students in this case deserve real credit because they were able to carry this project forward, develop support, and make it happen.”

Anyone who is interested in renting one of ‘DeisBikes’ 12 bicycles can sign up at the Shapiro Campus Center. The daylong rental is free, but there is a charge if a bicycle is returned late or damaged beyond typical wear and tear. Helmets are also available.
 
‘DeisBikes is sponsored by the Brandeis Student Union, Greening the Campus and Community course, Department of Student Activities, and the Campus Sustainability Initiative. For more information, visit the ‘DeisBikes Web site.

Photos by Mike Lovett