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TECHNICIAN
PAGE 3 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
Hundreds more LimeBikes headed to NC State
EMMA DIMIG/TECHNICIAN
A LimeBike sits outside of Metcalf Residence Hall in the evening of Sept. 3. By using their NC State email address, NC State students and employees can ride LimeBikes at a rate of $0.50 per 30-minute ride.
Kennedy McCutchen Assistant News Editor
Two hundred LimeBikes will be brought to campus in the coming weeks, half of which will include new electric assistance in order to make pedaling easier for riders. After 300 were introduced this past August, LimeBikes have been used by about 14,500 people on campus and have saved over 870 gallons in gas. Currently, NC State students and employees are eligible to receive half off the $1 cost per 30 minutes of use with their NC State email. However, according to Sarah Williams, alternative transportation program manager, the price may go up with the addition of the new electric feature. “Out of the 200 bikes, 100 of them are going to be electric assist, so it’s essentially pedal assist,” Williams said. “When you’re going up a hill, it helps you get up there. I’m not sure what the pricing is going to be on that, but it is going to be probably a little bit more expensive than the regular 50 cents per half hour.” William attributes the LimeBike success to a community eager for cycling. “I think that having LimeBikes on campus has shown that Raleigh really wants to have a bike share,” William said. “It shows that
we are excited about cycling and want to do it more and have more resources to be able to do it.” Williams discussed the convenient benefits that LimeBikes can offer to students. “It can help you get around to class easier,” Williams said. “You can just ride over to class instead of having to walk, which is really nice. If you took a LimeBike over to the grocery store then you’re saving on gas and things like that.” Use of LimeBikes has also been estimated to reduce 17,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, due to savings in gas. “We’re really passionate about sustainability at NC State, so anything to reduce the amount of cars that are driving around on campus is always going to be beneficial,” said Williams. Samantha Lenger, a first-year studying management and the university brand manager for LimeBike, previously served as a student ambassador for the company after applying through an internship. “I really love the combination between doing marketing and doing it for something sustainable that you believe in,” said Lenger, who lives in the EcoVillage on campus. Lenger, who uses a LimeBike daily to get to class, is responsible for Limebike partnerships, programs and events on campus.
EMMA DIMIG/TECHNICIAN
Outside of Owen Residence Hall on Sept. 3, a LimeBike is seen parked among other bicycles. By using their NC State email address, NC State students and employees are able to ride LimeBikes at a rate of $0.50 per 30-minute ride.
“I use them every single day,” Lenger said. “I’ve gotten into the habit of taking them to my classes. It’s really an integral part of my day. They cut my travel time in about a third, and they make it so much easier for someone who’s so busy.” Lenger is also excited for the addition of the electric assist feature, which she says will help her when she moves next semester. “I’m planning to live on Centennial Campus next year and getting up the hill to go to Centennial will make it so much easier,” Lenger said. “And it’ll reduce the traffic so much with public transportation.” Not all students have tried out the green bikes. Grace Barnhill, a first-year studying applied mathematics, has never used a LimeBike, but feels the price is fair if you are looking to get around. “I’ve sometimes thought about [riding a LimeBike], but I’m a really clumsy person so
riding bikes wouldn’t work for me,” Barnhill said. “Maybe for fun, but not for getting around campus.” LimeBikes have not only been used for transportation purposes, but have been frequently placed on top of miscellaneous buildings, including Sullivan Residence Hall, Bragaw Residence Hall and Fountain Dining Hall. “It’s definitely a safety issue,” Williams said. “Not just for the students that are putting them on top of buildings or entries, but also for the LimeBike staff having to get them down, or sometimes the campus police or facilities have to help with that as well. Obviously, we prefer that they stay on the ground, and hopefully they are parked on a bike rack and out of the way.” One hundred bikes are expected to arrive in January, while the additional hundred will be arriving later in February.
