Bradley Keliinoi – For the Review. With an innovative idea and a long-term goal, three Linfield students set out on a
mission to open and manage a bike repair and rental facility on campus.
Senior Duncan Reid and juniors David Kellner-Rode and Sarah Valentine were determined to transform a proposal into a reality.
After coordinating with Director of Facilities Services Brad Sinn last year, the trio
secured a campus location, identified
as building 17 on the campus map, near Cozine and Campbell halls.
The building, formerly used as storage, now houses the Linfield Bike Co-op. Although the structure continues to be cleaned and renovated for more efficient
and convenient use, students may already notice the newly painted blue exterior.
Primarily funded through a $1,000 grant from the Oregon Campus
Compact, the LBC seeks to provide Linfield and the community with a transportation alternative in an effort to reduce fossil fuel consumption, Kellner-Rode said.
The LBC assists students in finding solutions for common
bicycle problems, such as loose screws and flat tires. But in the near future the Linfield
College Community Public Safety & Security Department will donate upwards of 20
 confiscated bicycles, abandoned in previous semesters, for rental purposes.
The LBC will repair bicycles free of charge, excluding costs incurred for
parts, as well as provide bicycles for rent. Rental packages also include a helmet, lock and light for
safety.
The LBC will hold bicycle workshops throughout the year.
“We will teach [students] how to fix their bikes, holding sessions in cooperation
with Tommyʼs Bicycle Shop [on 3rd Street] throughout the year to show people how to
complete do-it-yourself repairs,” Kellner-Rode said.
Although these students succeeded in opening the
LBC, challenges remain as they search for viable resources to maintain
operations.
“My goal is to make [the LBC] sustainable [for future use year after year],”
Kellner-Rode said.
With limited funding, the LBC is looking for volunteers who are interested
in learning about bicycle repairs and environmental sustainability. The LBC also aims
to serve as a campus hub where students can have fun while supporting a cause.
Students and community members interested in volunteering for LBC, or who want more information, can stop by the LBC during its operating
hours: Sundays 5:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays 4-7 p.m., Wednesdays
10 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursdays 4-7 p.m. or by appointment.