While many people receive bikes during the holidays as gifts, some folks at DU are getting their wheels taken away.
The red bikes seen around campus over the past 18 months, which are part of a bike-share program overseen by B-cycle and the city of Denver, will be taken out of service on Dec. 5.
The bike-share program at DU, which has two stations on campus and one station near the University of Denver light rail station just off campus, will be closing for the winter season from Dec. 6–March 1.
Program administrators cite several reasons for the hiatus:
- To do the first season review
- Bike maintenance overhaul
- Winter riding safety concerns
- Expected low winter ridership
- System information technology enhancements
- Improve kiosk user experience
- Make operational adjustments
“We will examine feasibility of staying open during future winter seasons,” says Tyler Reeder, a B-cycle customer service specialist.
There will be other B-cycle programs going on during the winter closure, including a holiday gift campaign that allows riders to buy gift memberships, a New Year’s campaign that plays on resolutions such as getting healthy and saving money, and a Valentine’s Day campaign called Be My Biking Valentine.