Junked bikes get new lease

Five students who needed transportation, or were tired of emitting pollution, got free bikes March 5 to use for the semester.

Student Matthew Wilder developed LoboBike, an upstart program
where he and his partner Richard Rivas fix bikes that would otherwise take up space at the landfill. Rivas started recycling bikes about seven years ago. Wilder adapted the idea and brought
it to campus, and he said the project encourages sustainable lifestyles and gives to the needy.

“Reducing carbon emissions on campus is my main goal,” he said.
“But I also wanted to help individual students. Foreign exchange students are a target market because they don’t have driver’s licenses and can’t work, so bikes are essential.”

Rivas said his partnership with Wilder has been successful. So far, the program has given away nine bikes.

Rivas said he has connections with a local land!ll, and workers collect bikes and parts and call him to pick them up. He said they recycle about 25 to 30 bikes per month.

““The supply is unlimited — it really is,” he said. “All we need are more volunteers to !x up more bikes.”

Wilder said he wants LoboBike to become a permanent !xture at UNM.
“I’m trying to work with the (UNM) Department of Transportation,” Wilder said. ““They have said they are the (most) sustainable, green department on campus, so I’m hoping they will eventually want to take over. “Then, the program could maybe get some school funding, too.”

Wilder said he will have a booth at the Sustainability Expo on April
21 where students can choose a free bike.

Students who want to rent a bike need to !ll out an application that
states they will obey all traffic laws, wear a helmet, buy a lock, and do any “reasonable maintenance” on the bike if necessary. Wilder also asks that renters send him a report of their weekly miles.

“The contract states that if the bike is stolen, the renter is not responsible
for replacing the bike.