Organization

How will the program be structured?

CUBS, in its final form, will be a large program that would include many people who use the program, but who do not participate in it. If it is dorm based, each dorm or group of dorms could have a representative bike-chair who keeps track of traffic and bike use for his or her region. These representatives could attend house meetings and incorporate house funding or support for more bikes, and receive student input. Organizations such as the Bike Club, Transportation Office, Campus Police, and MITOC might have staff willing to participate in the administration of the program.

What are the liability and safety considerations?

Although the safety helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment when riding a bike, those over the age of 18 are not mandated by law to wear one. Because most users would be over 18, mandating that users to wear a helmet on a campus use bike would prove very difficult. Due to this, many bike share programs have implemented the “Use at Your Own Risk” policy and have had users sign liability statements.

Other safety considerations are when and where users are allowed to ride the bikes. Should the bikes be loaned out at night or in the winter? If bikes are allowed to be used at night, they should be equipped with reflectors and headlights. Biking in the winter, however, can be a great deal more dangerous. Students who stay during the MIT Independent Activities Period (IAP) during the month of January could work, volunteer, or take a class in bike maintenance and building, during which the program’s bikes would be maintained.

Who would help/employed? How do we develop skills? Why would they take part?

The maintenance and organization of the program requires manpower. Who will run the program? Maintenance of the bikes can be performed in several ways depending on how the bikes are distributed and stored when not in use. Initially, the organization could hire a bike repairman, or send students to a bike repair class to teach interested students to repair the bikes. Then, these students could train others in workshops over IAP or during MIT’s annual Earth Day events.

Where will the program be physically located?

Aside from the bike hubs themselves, possible places for storage of the bikes during the winter or vacation periods could be dorm storage spaces, Campus Police stations, or spaces that MIT’s Department of Facilities may donate.