The Missouri Students Association Senate has proposed making Bike Share an
auxiliary.

“Making Bike Share an auxiliary is the best avenue to ensure the long term success of the program,” said Tyler Ricketts, co-founder of Bike Share and drafter of the bill.

Since its start on Aug. 27, Bike Share has been successful among students, with more than 1,000 checkouts and 250 wavers signed, MSA adviser Farouk Aregbe said at full Senate on Nov. 14.

Ricketts said the program is operating at 90 percent capacity.

With the large demand, three bikes are already out of commission, Senate Speaker Jake Sloan said at full Senate.

The money for bike reparations currently comes from MSA’s Department of Student Services.

“The operating budget (for Bike Share) is coming from DSS’ budget for new student services,” Student Affairs chairman Connor Hickox said at Senate. “This money should be reserved for new services.”

If Bike Share became an auxiliary, its funding would no longer come from DSS. Instead, Bike Share’s funding come from the annual MSA budget.

“Bike Share would have real fighting power in the MSA budget as the new budget gets sets,” Ricketts said.

Permanent funding would ensure the maintenance and reparation of bikes, Ricketts said.

Bike Share would also have a permanent director as an auxiliary.

Currently, the Bike Share program is overseen by Ricketts and James Jordan, the Residence Halls Association sustainability coordinator. If Bike Share became an auxiliary, it would have its own independent director.

Although Bike Share is currently working at 90 percent capacity, many students are still unaware of the program. Out of 311 students surveyed, 10.93 percent of students responded they are familiar with Bike Share, 44.05 percent are somewhat familiar and 45.02 percent are not at all familiar, according to MSA’s Fall Student Opinion Poll.

“The Bike Share director can help further publicity of the program much like the STRIPES director,” Ricketts said.

Although Bike Share would be under MSA if it became an auxiliary, RHA could still be involved, Ricketts said. Ricketts said RHA could create a committee involved in the overall strategic planning of the program.

“(Making Bike Share an auxiliary) provides a long-term home for the program,” Ricketts said. “It allows Bike Share the full resources MSA can offer.”

The legislation will be voted on Dec. 5 during the next full Senate.