After more than a year of planning and revisions, Brandeis has approved $25,500 in funding for a student-run bike share program that will be launching its pilot phase this April with 12 bikes.  In a Jan. 23 interview with The Justice, the student organizers for this project, Ruben Seaman ’29 and Allan Feldman ’26 shared that they planed to expand the program to 20 bikes by the time the program “hard launch[es]" in the fall semester. The funding for this program came from the The Community Emergency and Enhancement Fund and the Campus Sustainability Fund following a revised proposal that addressed logistical and sustainability concerns that were raised in the previous application cycle. Seaman and Feldman said that the updated proposal focused on long-term continuity, cost efficiency and broader student participation. The initiative was first reported by The Justice in October 2024, when they outlined early plans for a campus bike share program but had yet to secure funding. 

Seaman and Feldman submitted a detailed proposal to the funding bodies which outlined the goals of the program, proposed locations for bike storage, staffing structure and long-term vision. Their earlier plans included three possible docking locations, including a current place for docking student bikes in Massell Quad. “The one that got approved is the existing bike shelter in Massell Quad, and that one is the most cost effective for us,” said Seaman. “That’s something the allocation board really liked about this project,” he added. Seaman shared that a lot of the concerns last year were about how the program would be sustained long term, Feldman stated “recruiting younger students who could take on the program after we graduate was really important.” 

Student demand for a bike share program at Brandeis has remained positive and upward. Survey data collected by Feldman during the previous proposal phase in 2024 engaged more than 300 students, with nearly 90% indicating they would use the program in some capacity. “I think student demand was very clear,” stated Feldman. 

Additional data collected this year further shaped the structure of the pilot program. Approximately 140 respondents said they would use the bikes several times per week considering good weather. “The data showed that demand would way outpace how many bikes we would have, so starting smaller made more sense,” said Seaman. They added that rather than offering 24-hour multi-day rentals, the program would prioritize shorter and more frequent use to maximize access. When discussing the possibility of 24-hour rentals Seaman said that “wouldn't even cover half the demand.”

The program is set to work in relation to a custom-built mobile app in contract with an electronic locking company named LINKA that is being developed by Christian Todorov ’28, Adrian Nykairu ’28 and Nathaniel Martin ’26. The app will function similarly to municipal bike share systems such as Bluebikes or Citi Bike. Seaman stated “everything [including] locking, rentals and maintenance requests will be handled through [the app]." The program will use electrical locks from LINKA, which secure the rear wheel and include an additional chain for attaching bikes to secure locations. Access will be limited to users with Brandeis affiliations and participation will require a signed waiver and a mandatory safety course. After completing these steps, students will have unrestricted access to the program, free of charge. 

The maintenance will be handled by students in partnership with the Brandeis Cycling Club. Gabe Mitchell ’26, a former bike shop employee, will serve as lead mechanic and train a team of student volunteers to spearhead the pilot program. The program plans to contract with Trek for bike purchases, though the plans have not been finalized yet. To keep up with maintenance, the users can log an issue on the app. Seaman assured “we’ll take that bike out of service and the maintenance team will fix it within 24 to 48 hours.” They project that the funding for this program is expected to last approximately three years. 

Beyond transportation, organizers said that the program aims to build a stronger cycling community culture on campus. They plan to include bi-weekly social group rides led by members of the cycling club, with participation determined by a lottery system due to limited bike availability. Both Seaman and Feldman are exploring collaborations with other student groups and hosting safety education workshops covering topics such as bike handling and flat tire repair. “One of my personal goals was to create more of a cycling culture on campus,” said Feldman. 

The program’s success will be evaluated using data tracking and quality feedback. Organizers said they will focus less on raw usage numbers and more on who is using the bike and for what purposes. “We don't want the system to be 20 people who ride bikes everyday,” Seaman said. “We want hundreds of students using them a few times a week — commuters, people going off campus, people riding for exercise.” In addition to weather-related limitations, organizers said establishing accountability policies has been one of the main challenges. They are currently working with university officers to implement systems for fines and enforcement in the cases of theft or misuse. “We’re figuring out the legal side of what happens if someone loses a bike or a lock,” emphasised Seaman. 

Both Seaman and Feldman said that they hope the bike share program will contribute to a more active and connected campus, particularly on weekends when student activity often slows down. They also cited the social and environmental benefits along with accessibility for students without cars. Feldman stated “I want students to leave from this, having read this article, they understand that more students should apply to CEEF and CSF.” Feldman and Seaman are currently conducting a data survey for their pilot program and are seeking student input. Updates regarding this program will be shared on the official “DeisBikes” Instagram page.