Blue Urban Bikes

A Community Bicycle Loan Program

Blue Urban Bikes (BUB), a community bicycle loan program, is designed to provide a reliable source of clean, affordable and sustainable transportation. Our community is ideal for getting around on a bicycle -- when you think about the time it often takes to find a parking space, riding a bike simply takes less time and leaves you feeling strong, able and healthy. The BUB Fleet offers a transportation alternative to citizens so that they may play an active role in lessening the environmental footprint of our community.

BUB Hubs, checkout stations for the Blue Urban Bikes, will be set up at local businesses in Carrboro and Chapel Hill and on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. Each BUB Hub should accommodate five or more BUBs; racks will be installed to secure the BUBs when not in use (each locked to the rack with it's own cable lock). Employees of each BUB Hub will be able to check-out BUBs to card carrying members; exchanging a key (and helmet if necessary) for the member's card. A simple log will record who's checking-out what and for how long. Members of the program ($10/annual) can check-out a BUB for up to 24-hours free of charge. Upon return of the BUB, a Hub employee should perform a quick "ABC" inspection: air pressure of the tires, brakes, chain and gears (also asking the rider if they noticed anything wrong). The ReCYCLEry will offer a short class to employees on how to perform this inspection. BUBs failing this inspection should be culled out of circulation until needed repairs are performed by the ReCYCLEry. The combination of checking-out and checking-in each BUB should require less than ten minutes.

BUB Hubs will be responsible for daily inspection of the BUBs including: maintaining proper air pressure of the tires and calling in necessary repairs. Monthly tune-ups and random spot repairs will be performed on each BUB by the ReCYCLEry. Membership applications will be processed by SURGE. Basically, we want the BUB Fleet to illustrate our community's commitment to a sustainable lifestyle while rewarding participating businesses with increased clientele and the positive image of Blue Urban Bikes.

Check out the latest news here regarding SURGE's public meeting on April 4th, and new BUB Hub locations!

Interested?

You can become a part of the Blue Urban Bike community for only $10 a year. Thanks to our partner organization, SURGE, you can now register online, using Paypal or Google Checkout. Alternately, you can download and mail in a BUB Application [pdf file] or a Volunteer Application [pdf file].

After registering online, mailing in an application, or signing up at a local BUB Hub, SURGE will mail you a membership card, a map pointing out the BUB Hubs and a general information sheet pertaining to: sizing of the BUBs, riding edict and other responsibilities or good ideas. You can immediately begin checking out BUBs if you present a copy or print-out of your membership payment.