Outdoor Recreation Offers Bike Programs

On a rainy Oct. 12, Outdoor Recreation hosted the grand opening of the University of South Carolina's new bike shop, located in the Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center. It is one of multiple programs designed to equip bikers and enhance the biking experience on campus. The kick-off event included a speaker from Outspokin' Cycles, a local bike shop, and free tune-ups for everyone.

The shop is unique in Columbia; it's totally free for students. There are tools available for student use, as well as employees to help repair bikes during shop hours. The shop also hosts clinics on riding and maintaining bicycles.

"We see the shop as a student resource," said bike shop manager Afotey Quaye. "There is also the education aspect: teaching people how to repair their bikes themselves. We want students to be safer on the roads and keep people on their bikes."

Although only a few people came the first day, in light of the pouring rain, traffic is "picking up," according to the staff.

Quaye is a fourth year psychology major who learned about bikes from Blackbird Bicycle Co-op, a volunteer group in Columbia for people interested in the bicycling. Now Quaye is teaching other staff members how to maintain and repair bikes.

"It's a process and learning experience for everyone involved. We've even had someone who knew more about bikes than us come in here one day and show us how to fix something," said Quaye.

Outdoor Recreation also recently released a bike map of Columbia, with the slogan, "It's like GPS for your bike." The map shows bikers the best ways to get around campus and the city. The bike map also helps increase bike safety. Shop mechanic Ryan Tanner, a junior in mechanical engineering, says that bicycling can be dangerous in certain areas.

"The busier roads need bike lanes," said Tanner.

When asked about biking on campus, Quaye says it is a microcosm for biking in general.

"It's not a perfect system. There are things that both sides, bikers and drivers, need to do to do their part. Improvements in interactions between the two need to be made," said Quaye.

Outdoor Rec director Katie Coley says that right now, the University is not a very bike-friendly campus.

"The road biking community of Columbia is interesting," said Coley. "They want to advocate all the rules like no biking on sidewalks and using hand signals. But students don't generally adhere to those standards, because they see biking as a mode of transportation rather than a hobby."

Coley says that increased awareness through the bike shop, map and other programs can help change the culture on campus, making it safer and more enjoyable for bikers, pedestrians and drivers.

Other bike initiatives at the University include monthly bike rides on the first Thursday of every month. There are eight - soon to be 10 - mountain bikes available for students to borrow who do not have a bike. The rides are usually between 35 and 45 minutes, and they are open to anyone who is interested. According to the bike staff, even beginners could handle these short trips. In the spring, staff hope to offer weekend trips combining camping and biking. A bike and whitewater rafting combination is also in the works.

In addition, Outdoor Rec's bike shop is partnering with the Healthy Carolina Farmers Market. They will be present at the farmers market, the next one being on Nov 10th from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. The partnership makes sense, according to Coley, because of the health and sustainability aspects of biking.

Biking can help save the environment, save you money, save your health and save time. According to the parking services Cycling at Carolina Website, the average 30-minute trip burns 250 calories, and trips less than three miles are often faster on a bike than in a car. Trips between five and seven miles typically take the same amount of time as driving.

Starting Dec. 7, the bike shop is going mobile, with free tune-ups on the Russell House patio the first Monday of each month from 11a.m. to 1 p.m.

"The programs are about advocacy and getting people on bikes while giving them the tools to learn about maintenance and repair so they can use their bikes more efficiently," said Coley.

It is also affordable, as the bike shop and sponsored rides are free and most trips are very inexpensive.

For more information, check out the available bike programs at http://stc.sc.edu/orec/biking.html.