November 25, 2014, by sustainablenottingham

Bikes for hire

Louisa Barron shares first-hand experience of the University’s bike hire scheme.

The Ucycle bike hire scheme has been running for several years, however as a student at the University and then a temporary employee, I had no idea it existed until this autumn when I started to help issue the hire bikes. But it really is a very good deal!

It centres around bikes being available for hire for up to a year to staff and students, offering alternative zero-emission transport around the city.

For £49 (and a £100 deposit) you can hire a good bike complete with lights and a lock for an academic year. You can also sign up for free cycle confidence sessions – whether you’re a complete beginner or just need a quick reminder about gears. Every single bike gets properly serviced over each summer and parts are replaced. There is a large selection of sizes from XS (which even I, at 5’ nothing can ride!) to XL.

If you encounter problems such as a puncture you can always call Dr Bike. These guys are really lovely and professional and will give cycles a thorough check and make any minor repairs such as changing brake blocks and tightening brakes. They also do free sessions which take place on each campus every month. Look out for dates on the Ucycle newsletter and the UoN Ucycle Facebook page as you have to book time slots and these go fast. Ucycle also hold a variety of events to promote safety and cycling throughout the year.

For the majority of students living in Lenton and Beeston it really is a fantastic way to get an extra 20-30 minutes in bed! Cycling will not only cut your commute time in half but is a great way to get a daily workout to combat all those takeaways!

Ucycle bikes are available to hire from the UoN Online Shop while stocks last. We also have a selection of cycle maps to help you find your way around.

Happy Cycling!

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