Photo by: Michael Furman

The bike-sharing program launched on Thursday during Bike Day, an event held between Nelson and Nagel halls. 

About 300 students, faculty and community members attended.

Information about the free program was distributed and those who attended were able to test the bicycles that the program offers. Free T-shirts were distributed.

Students are now able to rent one of 20 bikes at either the front desk of Nelson Hall or Centennial Halls with their Pioneer Card. Bikes must be returned by 7 p.m., but there are no restrictions on where they can be taken.

The DU Bike-Share Program is part of what will eventually be a citywide program with around 600 bikes.

The high-tech bikes come with an attached basket that can hold up to 25 pounds, and a lock and helmet is included when they are rented.

For safety reasons, the bikes will not be available once the weather gets worse in the coming winter months.

The DU Bike-Sharing idea was started by two now graduated students who attended an environmental conference and decided to make DU a more conscious campus as far as transportation is concerned.

“It’s not difficult getting people into it [the program], because everyone thinks it’s a great idea,” said Dillon Doyle, a junior and member of the Undergraduate Student Government. “The hardest part was the implementation and logistics of the program, actually getting the bikes circulating on campus and such.”

He hopes that the DU community will step up and use this program, because it is free and easy to use.

Denver’s sunny weather and extensive network of bike trails enable users to get in shape as well as be environmentally friendly by riding instead of driving to locations around the city.

“In the spring, it will be possible to take the bikes downtown on the light rail and leave them,” said Doyle.