Xavier launches new bike rental program

A new program called Bike XU will ride onto Xavier's campus this semester.

Bike XU is a program designed and coordinated by senior Taylor Mauro, a sustainability intern for the Sustainability Committee and junior Kristin Sanfilippo, a senator for the Student Government Association (SGA).

The initiative has been organized to meet students' transportational needs, including campus residents as well as students living in the surrounding Xavier neighborhoods. Another goal is to give students a chance to participate in the university initiatives for a greener campus.

According to Mauro, the idea had been discussed by the Sustainability Committee over the last few years.

Mauro said that Josh Arthur, a recent XU grad and Senator for SGA, was the one who really put the idea into motion. As a senator, he chose to make this his project and worked with Mauro to get a grant through Women of Excellence at the end of last year.

The program is still in the "beta" phase, but is expected to run similar to the laptop program located at the front desk of the Gallagher Student Center.

According to Sanfilippo, students will be able to "check out" a bike for a specific amount of time and then return it at the end of the allotted time.

While subject to change, a full- year bike rental currently costs students $20, and a semester will cost only $10. Other possible fees could include maintenance fees, but SGA is trying to work out a deal with Fast Wheels on Montgomery Road where minor costs would be free for students.

Registration will be opening at Club Day. Interested students will need to e-mail sustainability@xavier.edu with their names. Because the program is beginning small, with only twenty bikes open for rental this year, the program will be conducted on a first-come ,first-serve basis. If selected, the students will receive the release forms they need to fill out. The students will have a week to fill out and return the forms, and if they fail to do so another student will get their spots.