Bike Repair Stations Aid Pedaling Do-It-Yourselfers

With tethered screwdrivers and wrenches dangling, a new feature on the Radford University campus will help cyclists keep their wheels rolling. RU has its first bicycle repair stations.

The community repair stands, or do-it-yourself service stations, accommodate riders whose bikes need an adjustment or a burst of air. Two new operational stations are located outside the main entrance of the Hurlburt Student Center and in front of Muse Hall. A third stand will soon be installed between Bolling and Moffett halls to serve the Moffett Quad.

The stands provide smartphone access to directions on how to make repairs, and they include all the tools necessary to perform basic repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat tire to adjusting brakes and derailleurs. The tools and air pump are securely attached to the stand with stainless steel cables and tamper-proof fasteners. Hanging a bike from the hanger arms allows the pedals and wheels to spin freely while making adjustments.

The installation of the stands is part of RU Sustainability's ongoing effort to encourage bicycling and other eco-friendly behaviors on campus. The stands help RU move toward certification as a "bike-friendly" campus by the League of American Bicyclists, said Ken Harrah, instructor of exercise, sport and health education. Harrah serves on a campus committee called Bikes Are Awesome that promotes cycling as a healthy and environmentally sound means of personal transportation. Bikes Are Awesome and RU Sustainability are leading RU's certification effort.

"For health reasons, to save money and to lower your carbon footprint, bicycling is a great way to travel," Harrah said. "A bike is a utilitarian way to get healthy, be free and have fun for the entire campus community—students, faculty and staff."

For more information on RU's ongoing green initiatives, visit RU Sustainability. For more on Bikes Are Awesome, contact Harrah at kharrah@radford.edu.