Coming from the flatlands of Florida and arriving in Clemson, my legs were appalled to find the number of hills on this campus. As a freshman, I remember feeling as if everywhere I went, I was walking uphill. However, as time went on, I adjusted to these hills and utilized Tiger Transit.

Since I lived on campus, it was quite easy to call a Tiger Transit bus and hop on one of the many available routes. But, it was moving off campus where my challenges began. First, I tried the CATbus, but it proved to be unreliable, and I couldn’t afford to miss an exam because
the bus didn’t come. So, I resorted to purchasing a commuter pass to ensure I had a reliable source of transportation.

However, I also began to dread the walk from the commuter lots to my class on the other side of campus. Some may call me lazy, but I prefer “efficient with my energy.” But, one day, on my walk to class, someone zipped me on an electric bike, and all my problems were solved. The next day, I purchased a bike pass from Clemson BikeShare for $20 and unlocked access to the electric bikes around campus.

For the next two weeks, I saved time and energy using the system to directly get from far-away parking lots to my classes.

Then, two weeks later, things started to go wrong. Certain bikes were not unlocking for use, and the dock loaded with bikes would show a count of “zero” on the app. Glitches and inconveniences like this plagued my experience with Clemson BikeShare, so much so that I eventually stopped using it altogether.

With more attention and polishing, Clemson BikeShare could be the best and most efficient transportation method.

First, the bikes offer full autonomy to students, with no need to worry about a bus being late or breaking down. They also move students through campus quicker and more efficiently, reducing buildups in parking lots. Finally, they are a cost-effective way for the University to provide quality transportation to its students.

The Clemson BikeShare program feels underused and undermaintained, but it has the potential to be the best way for students to get around campus.

Jack Kinder is a junior sociology major from Ocala, Florida. Jack can be reached at [email protected].