Bikes for days

Bike sharing is back at Duke. And this time, with a complete makeover.

In two weeks, Zagster, a private bike-sharing company, will debut its services on Duke’s campus. No longer will students have to wait to board a crowded C2 or rush for a commuter spot in Blue Zone – they can check out a bike, ride to their destination and drop it off hassle-free. And, for those without cars, bike sharing can increase mobility.

Bike sharing is a noteworthy addition to campus. Given Duke’s expansive layout, frustrating parking policies and often sporadic bus flow, the bike program will provide a convenient alternative to navigating campus. The plan includes four docking stations, 50 bikes, 24-hour access and full maintenance services. Students can opt into the service by registering online or downloading the app and paying a $20 annual membership fee—the first three hours per ride are free, after which students will be charged $2 per hour. Additionally, the bikes have locks and GPS trackers, making them suitable both for off-campus trips and commutes to campus locations without docking stations.

Though the return of bike services on campus is an undeniable plus, the price tag may spur some unease. The program, funded mostly by Duke Student Government and the Parking and Transportation Services budget, will cost Duke $60,000, a seemingly high annual operating fee for just 50 bikes. But breaking down the expense to $1,200 per bike incorrectly frames the program. Not only does the price include bike maintenance services from Zagster, but it also represents Duke’s investment in a new, long-term transportation system. Zagster and companies like it have already proven successful at universities like Yale and New York University—where membership has reached over 3,000 students—and in major cities like New York and London. In short, the bike-sharing program is not just 50 bikes for 50 students. It is a new culture of transportation that promises to improve campus life for all students who participate.

Whether Zagster will prove successful on Duke’s campus, especially in light of the failure of Duke Bikes, rests on two main factors. First, the service must be sufficiently convenient and safe for students to make frequent use of it. Though Campus Drive was recently repaved with full bike lanes extending from the Admissions Office to Smith Warehouse, concerns remain about biker-bus interaction. Riders should be especially wary of the tricky transit zones in the traffic circle at the top of Chapel Drive or under the narrow East Campus Bridge. Second, Zagster will need to provide maintenance services that will guarantee operational bikes, mitigating a potential “Tragedy of the Commons” that often results from a lack of personal accountability.

Ultimately, however, reviving bike sharing is a worthwhile mission on Duke’s part. At the worst, student demand is low, and Duke’s $60,000, one-year venture will be a lost cost. At best, Duke’s bike-sharing flourishes, more docking stations pop up around campus, and a biking culture is born.

Bike sharing under Zagster sets itself up success. If the profit-driven private company comes through on its end of the maintenance bargain, all of the issues Duke Bikes could not solve — convenience, upkeep and overall functionality — would be covered. Beyond those, or perhaps operator error, it is hard to see where things might go awry. Welcome back, bikes.