*Update* OSU Names its bike-share partner
OSU has announced which company will be running the show on its new bike sharing service: Zagster. The Massachusetts-based company already runs about 80 programs, including one at Easton. Under their proposal, riders can rent bikes for an hour on weekdays and three hours on weekends. They’ll start by installing 15 stations, with 115 bikes available for students. And it’s not just standard bikes they’ll be offering. Zagster is looking at offering students the chance to rent tandem bicycles, three-wheeled cargo bikes, heavy duty bikes, and even some that can be pedaled or use electricity.
A lot of people expected OSU to choose Motivate for the project; as they already run the city’s CoGo program. But some are thinking that Zagster might have included a helmet distribution idea that sealed the deal. (deb)
Previously, March 4, 2015
5 companies bidding for OSU bike share service
Earlier this year, OSU said that it’ll launch a bike share service to better serve the cycling needs of its students. The university and the Undergraduate Student Government initially were looking at seven companies as potential bike share service providers, but the list is now down to five:
- Motivate (operates CoGo)
- NextBike
- Social Bicycles
- Gotcha Group
- Zagster
Vendor interviews and bids took place in February and planning spokesman Dan Hedman says that a decision should be made sometime later this month. So basically you still have time before you have to start dodging cyclists around campus. (deb)
Previously Jan. 21, 2015
Will OSU get its own bike share service?
It looks like the city isn’t the only one looking to bring cycling to Columbus. OSU and the Undergraduate Student Government are looking into bringing a bike-sharing service to campus. Seven companies, including Motivate (which operates CoGo Bike Share) were asked to be part of a bidding process to find the best fit; bidding will end on Friday. “The university anticipates an initial launch to include 10 to 15 stations with 100 to 150 bicycles,” said Administration and Planning spokesman Dan Hedman. They also hope to incorporate BuckIDs into the payment plan.
Between possible OSU bikes and more CoGo bikes, I wonder how we’ll tell them apart? Maybe OSU will have all their bikes painted scarlet and gray, with commemorative Buckeye playing cards stuck between the spokes.
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