On a first visit to MU, people tend to notice a few things related to transportation: very few cars and very many bicycles. Some people really love their cars, but others believe biking is more convenient and might even help diminish a few of the Mizzou 22.
Enter [Tiger Wheels](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tiger-Wheels/218707961477748) — a service aimed at providing bicycles for to students at a reasonable cost. Tiger Wheels was started during the summer and has proved to be a bit of a success, with 25 customers so far.
To generate interest, they have offered chances to win a free bike and have been slowly gathering steam.
“At Tiger Wheels, we deliver the bikes directly to the student’s dorm or wherever they may be living,” Tiger Wheels manager Logan Hepburn said.
The service is run entirely by members of the student body.
The cost of renting a bike for a semester is $35, and an additional $3 unlocks unlimited repairs. As an added bonus, while a bike is being repaired, customers will get a replacement bike until the original bicycle is fully functional.
The service is designed to allow people to leave their bikes at home or, if they don’t own a bike, to have a fairly cheap way of getting a bicycle. Also, it provides a delivery service that will show up at the customer’s residence hall door in an attempt to make this experience as efficient as possible.
Tiger Wheels stores its bikes during summer and winter breaks to avoid weather damage and vandalism, thereby preserving them for future use. It has been adding customers since opening last summer and plans on continuing this service for as long as it remains sustainable and popular.
Sustain Mizzou President Kat Seal said she is an advocate of cycling on campus as opposed to driving. Seal uses a bike on campus herself and said she hopes more students will follow her lead.
“Biking is a great way to get around campus and it saves a bunch of money,” Seal said, emphasizing the ease of biking compared to driving a car. “There are a lot more bike racks than there are parking lots.