NC State students launch free bike share pilot program

Residents of NC State’s Honors Village living and learning community can now rent bicycles for free through a student-initiated pilot program called Quad Bikes.

Quad Bike founders Carlos Vega and Brian Iezzi wanted more convenient bike options on campus and after surveying students, they learned that 80 percent of Honors Village residents were interested in a residential bike-share program. By eliminating cost and conveniently staging rental bikes at residence halls, Vega and Iezzi theorized that more students would use this form of alternative transportation.

They pitched their idea to University Recreation and NC State Transportation, which partner to offer the university’s bike rental program called WolfWheels. With their support and with funding won in Student Government’s “Think Outside the Brick” sustainability seed funding competition, Quad Bikes launched in August 2013.

After attending an information and safety workshop, which is offered twice a month, Quad residents can check out a bike for a five-hour period, which can be renewed. Though the pilot is only open to residents of Becton Hall, Berry Hall and Bagwell Hall, the program’s organizers will collect data on usage and student interest with the intention to implement the program on other parts of campus.

Initiated by students, Quad Bikes is a collaborative effort of NC State Transportation, University Housing, University Sustainability Office, Quad Sustainability and University Recreation.