H&D installs bike repair station

By Amanda MacDonald     11/8/12 6:00pm

 

Rice students can now tackle simple bike repairs themselves with the new Dero Fixit station located behind the Housing and Dining Office, between Hanszen College and Herring Hall. The free station includes a variety of necessary tools, including wrenches, screwdrivers, hex keys, tire levers and a pump, plus a QR code linked to an online instruction manual. 

H&D Sustainability and Special Projects coordinator Drew Berger (Lovett '11) said he installed the station after learning that in Spring 2012 the Rice Endowment for Sustainable Energy Technology approved a budget for at least two stations but that the project had been sidetracked due to conflicts over the proposed locations. 

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"With this first station, we're testing for demand among students," Berger said. "I don't know when or if other stations will be installed. We're still feeling it out." 

Brown College senior Kori Bertun proposed the project to RESET after studying abroad in Copenhagen, where she was inspired by the city's extensive biking infrastructure. 

"I thought it would be a really cool thing for Rice to have," Bertun said. "[The repair station] empowers students to take simple repairs into their own hands." 

Berger said the bike station promotes sustainability on campus. 

"We save on material costs by having tools and equipment that everyone can share," Berger said. "Plus, it encourages students to ride their bikes, which doesn't use any fossil fuels. 

Lovett College junior Mariah Riddlesprigger said she had not heard about the repair station yet but that she would be interested in using it. 

"I'd definitely use it," Riddlesprigger said. "My tires are pretty messed up," 

The student-run Rice Bike Shop located at Sid Richardson College is available for more intensive bike repairs. Sid Richardson senior Michael Fuad, who works at RBS, said he supports the new repair station because it will compensate for the shop's limited hours and promote bicycle safety on campus. 

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