Students and faculty at universities are increasingly turning to bikes as a form of transportation. Adding to that trend, college and university campus facilities are often looking for ways to accommodate bike storage. Enclosed and secured bike shelters provide a solution to both challenges. These shared storage areas accessed by RamCard are typically located in garages or stand-alone bicycle cages and can be found around the campus. These spaces are programmed to be accessed by only a valid bicycle parking permit holder using their RamCard. In addition to providing convenient and secure bike storage, these locations also offer weather protection for cyclists and are designed to meet the University’s sustainability goals.
The University of Rochester has long been a bicycle-friendly university. It is one of only a few to earn the silver Bike Friendly University award from the League of American Bicyclists, and it has made substantial efforts to improve its bike facilities over the years. The most recent upgrade was a new bike shelter designed by the architect team of Schemata, in partnership with PLACE Studio. The design for the new facility was driven by user surveys that showed a clear desire for more indoor and covered bicycle parking. The project was completed on a tight schedule and within budget.
A key part of the design is a Dero Fixit station that provides tools university bike shelter services to assist users with basic maintenance and repairs. The station features an air pump and a variety of tools that can be used to adjust brakes, replace wheels or other minor fixes. The stations are available to all students and staff and are located on both campuses.
In addition to the new bike shelters, the University has also added more bicycle racks to outdoor areas and residence halls. All bicycles stored on the University of Rochester campus must be registered. The registration process is free and takes just a few minutes. Students living in University Housing can register their bicycles at their residence hall or apartment information center. All other students can register their bicycles at the main University Commons front desk or online.
There are also several outdoor and indoor bike lockers throughout the university that can be rented for an academic year. Each locker is designed to fit most standard size bikes, but oversized or specialty bicycles may not fit. To rent a locker, students must visit the Student Services Office at O’Brien Hall for an area office card and to be directed to a space number. Indoor lockers are only available during the academic year and must be removed at the end of each semester. Residents who want to store their bikes over the summer can use the university’s winter bike storage service provided by University Student Services (USS). This full-service option includes unlimited boxes, pickup at their home or off-campus apartment, delivery back to campus, and shipping the bike to the home address. More information about this service can be found on the USS website.