Yes, you must wear a helmet while riding a Bowdoin Bike. Helmets are provided upon checkout, but you are welcome to use your own helmet if you have one.
Bowdoin Bike Share Program
Welcome to Bowdoin’s Bike Share Program, brought to you by the Sustainability Office!
- This program is a part of our initiative to promote green transportation in and around campus as we work towards the Sustainable Bowdoin 2042 Climate Action Plan.
- We have five bikes available for checkout on a first-come, first-serve basis from H-L Library.
- All members of the Bowdoin community (students, faculty, and staff) can check out bikes using their OneCard and employee or student ID number.
- Bikes are available for checkout during H-L Library’s open hours and must be returned one hour before H-L Library closes.
How to check out Bowdoin Bikes
Before you go to H-L:
Complete the Bowdoin Bike Safety Training module on CampusGroups.
You will receive a badge in your Campus Groups profile when you pass the training module quiz. You can view it in The Bowdoin College App under "More Profile Badges".
When you arrive at H-L:
- Choose a bike. Bikes #1 through #4 are size Small, and #5 through #7 are size Medium.
- Fill out the Bike Checkout Form. (The form will automatically send you an email when you complete it)
- Go inside to the Circulation Desk to check out a key and a helmet (Be ready to show the Library staff your Campus Groups badge!)
- Ask to check out the bike you indicated on the Checkout Form.
- Show your CampusGroups badge to the Library staff member.
- Swipe your OneCard when prompted, and collect your bike’s helmet and key.
- Wear your helmet, use your lights, ride safe, and have fun!
- Don’t lose your key. Use the provided carabiner to clip your keyring onto a backpack or your clothing.
After your ride:
- Re-lock your bike outside H-L.
- Fill out the Bike Return Form.
- Note: your bike will be considered lost or missing if you don’t fill out the Return form!
- You will have received a link to the Return form in your email after checking out a bike.
- Clip your key back onto your helmet using the carabiner and return both to the Circulation Desk inside H-L.
Program Policies
- You must successfully complete the Bowdoin Bike Share training module and earn the Bowdoin Bike Campus Groups Badge in order to check out a bike.
- You must wear a helmet while riding a Bowdoin Bike.
- You must use the lights on the Bowdoin Bikes every time you ride.
- You must follow all Maine state laws and regulations while riding a Bowdoin Bike.
- All bike share equipment is due to the H-L Circulation Desk one hour before H-L closes. This is to ensure Library staff have time to inventory equipment before closing each night.
- You may not return bike share equipment to other Library branches.
- As H-L’s hours vary, you should be aware of the Library’s closing time before checking out a Bowdoin Bike.
- The Sustainability Office will charge program users for late returns, damage, or lost/missing bike share equipment.
- During the first week that equipment loaned to you is overdue, your CampusGroups badge will be deactivated and you will be unable to participate in the bike share program until you meet with the Sustainability Office.
- During the second week that equipment loaned to you is overdue, you will be charged $30/day.
- Fines for damage will be assessed based off of the cost of parts and labor for repair.
- Fines for lost or missing equipment will be assessed based on the original price of the equipment; for example, you will be charged $600 for a lost or missing bicycle.