A free bike rental program has been proposed at MSA, and we here at The Maneater propose the program happens soon.
To the long-distance commuters in desperate need of a parking space, those who live a bit closer to campus could free up those coveted parking spaces.
To the pedestrians too afraid to cross the street at the intersection of Rollins and Hitt streets, this would reduce the amount of cars on the road.
To the bus riders affected by the cuts to the city bus system, you can stop worrying because you could just ride a rental bike instead.
To the out-of-state students who would otherwise have trouble transporting a bike back home during the summer, a rental bike would allow you to have it for just a semester or year. It’s easy enough to put bedding or coats in storage, but really, it’s easier to rent a bike than try to shove that hunk of metal in storage.
We could go on and on about how many people this would benefit, but we think you get the point.
A bike rental program would not only help reduce traffic and parking problems on campus but also encourage students to get out and explore Columbia beyond the MU bubble. Bike renters could further explore the MKT Trail or take a trip to the Columbia Public Library rather than Ellis.
Should this program take off, we hope students could rent bikes for a semester or a year to eliminate the hassle of checking out the bikes.
MU’s Surplus Department picks up a lot of abandoned bikes off the streets, and a rental program would put all those unloved bikes into the hand of someone who cares, whether it’s a tree-hugger, an out-of-stater or just a poor college kid who cannot afford to buy a bike.
We’d like to see this program take off by the end of the semester, so when prospective students tour the campus during the spring, they see MU as a forward-thinking campus that cares about the environment and its students.
So please, MSA, partner up with RHA or Sustain Mizzou and do what you need to get the wheels on this bike program spinning.