GVSU adds bicycle repair stations to downtown campus

GVL/Spencer Miller
GVSU student, Annie Taccolini, uses one of the new bike repair stations to pump air into her tires on GVSUs Pew campus. The stations are located at the L. William Seidman Center, the Eberhard Center, the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences and Winter Hall.

GVL/Spencer Miller GVSU student, Annie Taccolini, uses one of the new bike repair stations to pump air into her tires on GVSU’s Pew campus. The stations are located at the L. William Seidman Center, the Eberhard Center, the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences and Winter Hall.

Lucas Escalada

Grand Valley State University transportation services has installed four bicycle repair stations on the Pew Campus in downtown Grand Rapids.

The Dero Fixit repair stations are equipped with the tools required for basic bike repairs and maintenance. Screwdrivers, wrenches, tire levels and an air pump ensure users can perform fixes that range from adjusting the brakes to changing a flat tire.

According to Mark Rambo, manager of operations at the GVSU Pew Campus, each repair station cost $1,200. The cost of funding and installing the stations was a joint venture between Pew Campus operations and the office of sustainable practices.

“We are experiencing an increase in faculty, staff and student bikers on the downtown campus,” Rambo said. “The repair stations will provide an outlet for minor repairs and filling up low tires.”

Pew Campus operations will be in charge of maintenance of the stations, Rambo said. To prevent tampering, the tools and the air pump in the Dero repair stations are attached to the stands with stainless steel cables.

Dero’s Fixit repair stations include hanger arms for the user to hang their bike during repairs. This allows the pedals and wheels to spin freely during repairs.

While the repair stations are located on the Pew Campus, they are not exclusive to GVSU students.

“The repair stations are open to the public and will complement the city’s enhanced mobility efforts,” Rambo said.

The bicycle repair stations are located at Winter Hall, the Eberhard Center, the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences and the Seidman Center.

In Allendale, students can rent a bike from the outdoor adventure center for $25 a semester. The rental includes a refurbished bike, a heavy duty u-lock, a GVSU bike permit, free maintenance and use of the compressed air stations in Allendale.

According to Rambo, the outdoor adventure center plans on getting a Dero Fixit bike repair station installed on the Allendale Campus in the near future.