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Davidson Outdoors Introduces "Wheels To Go" At Davidson College, you may never be without wheels again. If you've got no bike of your own, feel free to grab a red one and ride! The college's Davidson Outdoors program is making six bicycles available for free use by students, faculty, and staff, and will repair and maintain the fleet. Director Ed Daugherty said, "They're available for people to use one-way anywhere and any time. Anyone can grab one." Sophomore Jessica Bogo borrowed one of Davidson's public bikes to commute to her student employment job The only rules at this point are that they be used for campus and local errands only, and should be parked on campus so they can be used by another rider. Davidson Outdoors student employees put in a lot of hours getting the bikes ready to go. Rob McKeehan '00 tweaked and honed the mechanical components into functional riding condition for several weeks, adjusting each one to fit an average size person. Then he painted each one totally bright red. That paint scheme for gears, tires, spokes, and frame makes them easily recognizable off campus to serve as a theft-deterrant. The red bikes don't come with locks, so the system's success relies on the honor of the users. Daugherty said, "I think that's the real appeal of the system. You don't have to lock the bicycle up or get it back to your dorm after using it." Rob McKeehan '00 and D.O. Director, Ed Daugherty Such systems are becoming popular in many communities worldwide. In 1995 the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, loosed 1,000 free-ride bikes in its inner city. Denver, Portland, Olympia and other cities and campuses in the American West also have bike programs, each with their own local spin. And though Davidson's bikes are red, other programs have chosen a rainbow of colors. In Seattle it's yellow, in Olympia it's pink, Copenhagen has white bikes, and Denver has "checker bikes." The idea arose in Davidson with Catherine Turner '93, the college's former community service coordinator. Davidson's Vice President for Student Life Tom Shandley and Chief of Police Sam McKelvey teamed up with Davidson Outdoors to instigate Davidson's initiative. The bikes came from campus police, who donated six the office impounded after they were abandoned on campus. The student life office provided funding for the paint, and will equip them with front and rear racks for students' books. If the idea proves popular, the number of bicycles will grow , and tandems for "buddy biking" may be added. If the campus program succeeds, it could be expanded into the surrounding community. Learn more about other community bicycle programs.

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