Semester Rentals

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW?bike_grrls

Each semester, the Bicycle Kitchen offers rentals to the Smith Community. These rentals begin on a specified date and continue throughout the semester until we run out of bikes.

There are no reservations for semester rentals, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Please bring $20 CASH with you, or plan on working 5 fix’n days during the semester.

We  have approx. 30 bikes, and the demand for bikes from us is somewhere between double and triple that. We cannot guarantee all folks who come to rental hours will be able to rent a bike. If we run out of bikes before your turn, you are welcome to find a cheap, broken bike elsewhere. Then bring it in to open hours, we will help you fix it and provide any parts for free.

Our rentals include a bike, lock, and helmet, and we have lights and reflectors available if you would like one.

All rental bikes are tuned up and ready to ride, but some may need minor tune-ups. In that case, we may ask you to come back to fix’n hours.

bikepile

HOW DO RENTALS WORK?

***We  have approx. 30 bikes, and the demand for bikes from us is somewhere between double and triple that. We cannot guarantee all folks who come to rental hours will be able to rent a bike. If we run out of bikes before your turn, you are welcome to find a cheap, broken bike elsewhere. Then bring it in to open hours, we will help you fix it and provide any parts for free.**

We will post on our Instagram and post flyers on campus with our bike rental day. It is usually held early in the semester to allow mechanics to check and fix the bikes before rental days.

  1. When you first arrive at the space wait for a Bike Kitchen Member to call you inside, we will help 2-3 people at once.

  2. When it is your turn, a Bike Kitchen member will help you to pick out a bike that fits your needs and size. Feel free to ride it around outside or make minor adjustments if you feel comfortable with that. (ex. raising or lowering a bike seat)

  3. If the bike has major problems, we will try to help you fix them, but you may be asked to come to fix’n hours or pick a different bike.

  4. Once you have picked your bike, head over to the check-out table to pick up your helmet and lock and pay the semester rental fee of $20 or volunteer 6hrs to fix’ns (more information at the bottom of the page)

  5. If you do not get a bike, you can add your name to the waiting list, and we will notify you if we get a bike that might fit you!

If you want to learn more about how bikes work, or help us out in some other way, you can rent a bike for free if you come to 5 bike fix’ns over the course of the semester. Talk to a Bike Kitchen chef if that would interest you.

 

FIX AND RENT PROGRAM

Did you find the bike of your dreams, but it’s in seriously unrideable condition? Never fear! If you come to fix’n hours to work on the bike, you can rent it for free after it’s been fixed up.

Never touched anything ‘under the hood’ of a bike? No problem, all you need is a willingness to learn and a few free afternoons!

 

To rent a bike for the semester from the BK: The Fine Print

 

In exchange for a bike, we ask for either: 

$20 in cash 

OR 

6 hours of work at the BK (we will teach you to fix bikes!), you can pick out your bike, and we’ll hold it for you until you complete the 6 hrs

Alternative way to pay with hours: pay us $20 up front, take the bike, complete the 6 hrs of work, and then we will refund you the $20

**We have open hours every week, this amounts to attending approx. 5 open hours!**

Since we are student run, and all our workers are volunteers, the $20 or 6hr alternative comes from a place of trying our best to make the bike rental program accessible to all students, while treating our unpaid volunteers fairly. Funds go towards buying bike supplies to help with fixin’, as well as other expenses to keep our org running. Hours, in addition to replacing the $20, will furnish you with bike fixin’ skills and more confidence with regards to bike maintenance.