The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) debuted its new bike share program, Tar Heel Bikes, October 25 at the UNC campus to provide a sustainable option of transportation for the students and staff of UNC and the residents of Chapel Hill.
After a year of planning, UNC Chancellor Carol Folt was able to cut the Carolina blue ribbon to mark the beginning of the program.
There were three workshops conducted for the production of the program.
“It’s a part of a fairly comprehensive plan to make people feel comfortable not bringing a vehicle on campus or using a single occupancy vehicle on campus, so you know part of that is making available use of buses [and] allowing people to very easily find other folks that might be riding the same way that they can share rides with,” Randy Young, UNC Transportation Officer, said.
Tar Heel Bikes was created in partnership with the company Gotcha Bike, located in Charleston, South Carolina.
Gotcha Bike provided the bikes for the UNC bike share pro-
gram, as well as for many other bike share programs in the country. Tar Heel Bikes is also sponsored by Burt’s Bees.
The vision of the program is to provide an efficient source of transportation that reduces waste and greenhouse gas emission.
There are two separate options for an individual using the program based on their relation to UNC.
Students, staff and workers of UNC Health Care use the Lifestyle Plan, which is thirty dollars per year, free for the first hour of riding and then four dollars for each hour after.
The Daily Plan is accessible to anyone, including individuals who are not involved with UNC. With the Daily Plan, the first hour of riding is free and each hour after is six dollars.
“The most common positive news I have heard is the time it saves busy students because the walk from South campus to North, where most classes are, can take a good 15 minutes sometimes. Biking really cuts down on the travel time. Another positive review I have heard is the ease of using it; the system does not seem too hard to manage and understand, also it is quick and easy to rent the bikes,” UNC sophomore and Chapel Hill High School alumna Anna Castellano said.
Individuals interested in using Tar Heel Bikes must download the app, Social Bicycles, to access the program.
“The challenge is on us to keep it new, to keep it adaptable, and the hope is that it continues to grow and it becomes like we said: just kind of a natural part of the fabric of the university community,” said Young.
Chapel Hill senior Katherine Li took a class at UNC this semester and commented on the program.
“I think it’s a great idea since the dorms are on the opposite side of campus,” Li said. “It’s really beneficial for the students.” She remarked that for future travel at UNC she plans to use Tar Heel Bikes.
