Written By: Katie Sipes
Before UF’s bike rental program Gator Gears was created, damaged bikes were left broken to rot. Then the UF Office of Sustainability organized Gator Gears. Now UF students can rent out a bike and reap many benefits from doing so, Allison Vitt, outreach and communications coordinator for the UF Office of Sustainability, said.
Gator Gears is the first bike rental program at UF. The program has taken off successfully. Every bike is currently being rented out, Vitt said.
The program was planned in Spring 2015 with the Office of Sustainability, Transportation and Parking Services and Student Traffic Court. The program was launched in Fall 2015 with a 100-bike fleet, Jacob Adams, office manager for UF Office of Sustainability, said.
After the instant success during its first semester, 100 bikes were added to the fleet in Fall 2016. There are currently 150 students on the waiting list, Adams said.
“The goal with the program was to try to get more people to use sustainable forms of transportation and for people to see cycling as a viable means for transportation,” Vitt said.
Gator Gears offers maintenance that comes directly to the consumer. They also provide a free helmet and lock for the bike. The program plans to continue its rapid expansion, Vitt said.
“We tried to cover all the bases to try to make it as easy as possible for people to get around using these bikes,” Vitt said.
Ariana Aragon, a member of the Center for Adaptive Innovation, Resilience, Ethics and Science program at UF, said that the Gator Gears program reminds her of Europe because they have programs like this for entire cities.
“I think starting a campus wide initiative is a great step in the right direction,” Aragon said. “I think the program is a great way to give bicycle access to a wide range of students and I hope it can only grow.”
Jimena Vargas, member of Greeks Going Green at UF, said that the influence Gator Gears has had on campus is a positive one.
“I think it’s a good investment for our campus,” Vargas said.
Some of the benefits include exercise and an eco-friendly way of transportation. Gator Gears is becoming increasingly popular and the team behind it is continuing to meet high demands, Vitt said.
“It’s really important and we’re making some really big strides that we’re very proud of,” Vitt said.
Before UF’s bike rental program Gator Gears was created, damaged bikes were left broken to rot. Then the UF Office of Sustainability organized Gator Gears. Now UF students can rent out a bike and reap many benefits from doing so, Allison Vitt, outreach and communications coordinator for the UF Office of Sustainability, said.
Gator Gears is the first bike rental program at UF. The program has taken off successfully. Every bike is currently being rented out, Vitt said.
The program was planned in Spring 2015 with the Office of Sustainability, Transportation and Parking Services and Student Traffic Court. The program was launched in Fall 2015 with a 100-bike fleet, Jacob Adams, office manager for UF Office of Sustainability, said.
After the instant success during its first semester, 100 bikes were added to the fleet in Fall 2016. There are currently 150 students on the waiting list, Adams said.
“The goal with the program was to try to get more people to use sustainable forms of transportation and for people to see cycling as a viable means for transportation,” Vitt said.
Gator Gears offers maintenance that comes directly to the consumer. They also provide a free helmet and lock for the bike. The program plans to continue its rapid expansion, Vitt said.
“We tried to cover all the bases to try to make it as easy as possible for people to get around using these bikes,” Vitt said.
Ariana Aragon, a member of the Center for Adaptive Innovation, Resilience, Ethics and Science program at UF, said that the Gator Gears program reminds her of Europe because they have programs like this for entire cities.
“I think starting a campus wide initiative is a great step in the right direction,” Aragon said. “I think the program is a great way to give bicycle access to a wide range of students and I hope it can only grow.”
Jimena Vargas, member of Greeks Going Green at UF, said that the influence Gator Gears has had on campus is a positive one.
“I think it’s a good investment for our campus,” Vargas said.
Some of the benefits include exercise and an eco-friendly way of transportation. Gator Gears is becoming increasingly popular and the team behind it is continuing to meet high demands, Vitt said.
“It’s really important and we’re making some really big strides that we’re very proud of,” Vitt said.