Rocket Wheels, a bike sharing program designed by Facilities and Construction that launched last September on UT’s Main Campus, is scheduled to return for the spring Monday, March 14.
The season will kick off with a mass ride to promote Rocket Wheels Wednesday, March 16, at noon starting at the Rocket Hall bike rack located near the horse sculptures.
In case of inclement weather, a backup date has been set for Wednesday, March 23.
Around 30 bikes will be available for checkout by those who have registered for Rocket Wheels, according to Diana Watts, UT transit and Rocket Wheels bike share coordinator. Watts also encourages anyone with his or her own bike to join the mass ride.
The mass ride will be led by Tom Garey, manager of facilities information, who is an avid biker. Participants will be taken around Main Campus to become acquainted with the Rocket Wheels stations and other bike racks available to them.
“We plan on having each station sponsored by a student organization, UT department or local business to talk about their involvement and support of the Rocket Wheels program,” Watts said.
The mass ride will end at the Q, located in the Flatlands between Parks Tower and the Academic House. There will be free food and prizes, including a bike that be raffled off. Local vendors, including Wersell’s Bike and Ski Shop, Spoke Life Cycles and Jimmy Johns, will help celebrate the return of Rocket Wheels.
The entire event should last about an hour, according to Watts.
Beginning this spring, faculty and staff members will be able to join the Rocket Wheels program. Additionally, bikes can be borrowed for six hours instead of four.
“Bike riding is fun and promotes a healthy lifestyle. The Rocket Wheels Bike Share gives people the opportunity to get to class without having to use their cars and eliminates the worry of finding a parking space,” Watts said. “It also provides those who do not have cars on campus a mode of transportation to get to other places around the city.”
Students and employees can check out bikes on Main Campus at three locations: near the northeast entrance of Rocket Hall, by the south entrance of Palmer Hall, and on the northeast side of the west parking garage.
For more information or to register for Rocket Wheels, visit http://utole.do/rocketwheels.
