'Work on your own bike ... with the enthusiastic aid of a skilled mechanic'
EUGENE, Ore. -- Amid the hanging tools, bikes and assorted parts at the University of Oregon’s bike loan program, skilled mechanics regularly fix bicycles with their voices and skilled guidance rather than their hands and tools.
Immediately upon entering the shop one can tell that this is not an ordinary bike shop.
“In other situations you come into a bike shop and there is a very distinct line of separation between where the customers are allowed to be and where the magic happens," said Alexander Hongo, a Bike Loan Program mechanic. "The cool thing about our shop here is you get to come right into the magic.”
Alexander Hongo, mechanic, prepares a Bike Loan Program bike for rental by drilling a hole for a fender.
The mechanics, rather than working on customer’s bikes, empower students to fix their own bikes by teaching maintenance. Customers are allowed to come right into the maintenance area and access the shop tools and work space free of charge.
Alexander Hongo, mechanic, gives Jessica Cavas, student, free bike repair tips.
Free access to tools and the shop is important to the Bike Loan Program’s purpose to serve as a resource for alternative transportation. They strive to give the campus community access to affordable, reliable and sustainable transportation through bike maintenance education and long term bike loans.
The mechanics don’t simply fix the bikes for you. Students lift the bikes in and out of the repair stands and do everything from start to finish.
“The Bike Loan program’s bike shop is different because you get to work on your own bike here with the enthusiastic aid of a skilled mechanic,” Hongo said.
“They give you a little more free reign with your bike than a shop would," said Ross Sherbak, a student using the shop to fix his personal bike. He said a regular bike shop "would want to charge you, take the bike in and want you to leave it for a few days.”
Aside from teaching bicycle maintenance, mechanics are also responsible for maintaining a fleet of bicycles supplied by the Department of Public Safety who collect abandoned bikes from campus.
The program chose this approach because it is less expensive than buying a fleet of new bicycles and also because it follows in their spirit of waste reduction and sustainability.
Colin Eckert, volunteer, and Alexander Hongo, mechanic, take a break from fixing bikes at the Bike Loan Program located in the Outdoor program barn
Alexander Hongo, mechanic, takes a break from fixing bikes at the Bike Loan Program located in the Outdoor program barn
Alexander Hongo, mechanic, takes a break from fixing bikes at the Bike Loan Program located in the Outdoor program barn.
Alexander Hongo, mechanic, prepares a Bike Loan Program bike for rental by drilling a hole for a fender.
Jessica Cavas, student repairs her personal bike using the Bike Loan Program tools and facilities free of charge.
Outdoor Program Barn where the Bike Loan Program is located at 18th and University.
Outdoor Program Barn where the Bike Loan Program is located at 18th and University.
