New program coordinator for Aggie Blue Bikes
Aggie Blue Bikes will be receiving a new program coordinator, TJ Hall, in the beginning of March. Hall will be taking over the position from Stephanie Tomlin, who is in the process of finishing up her graduate program.
For the rest of the semester, Hall will be trained by Tomlin so that the switch in leadership will be gradual and smooth.
“Stephanie has done such a good job with ABB, and I really just want to keep the program growing and flourishing,” Hall said.
Hall, a Western Michigan University graduate, was chosen from a group of 20 applicants. Tomlin said that during the hiring process, Hall seemed like a really natural fit and that his previous work history was impressive.
“The hiring committee and I gave all the applicants a scenario where they had to present us with a speech on ABB,” Tomlin said. “TJ definitely stood out when he presented to us, and he covered all the reasons that ABB is so beneficial to the university.”
TJ said that he was drawn to this job opportunity because it would give him a way to be connected to the Cache Valley bike community, while also giving him the privilege of serving the USU community.
“Aggie Blue Bikes has a bright future and the more we can get people riding bikes, the more it will continue to better the USU community,” Hall said.
What started as just a small stand that offered free bike rentals in 2005 by some people who wanted to improve Cache Valley’s air quality, soon grew into ABB. It is now a full facility with over 350 bikes available to rent, one-on-one maintenance tutorials, student tool boards and cycling education classes and seminars.
ABB goal is to bring positive effects to the environment on and around campus by providing resources to students. Its mission statement explains more about these positive changes and resources.
“Aggie Blue Bikes believes in the power of the bicycle and works to get more people on more bikes, more often. This is achieved through bicycle lending, education and advocacy. We believe that cycling promotes self-sufficiency, healthy and sustainable communities, better air quality in Cache Valley and a reduction of on-campus congestion and motor accidents, thus contributing to the campus vibrancy at Utah State University,” the mission statement reads. “By removing the barriers students identify with cycling, such as cost and uncertainty in bicycle maintenance, we help them discover the potential cycling has to become a viable transportation and recreation option throughout their time at Utah State University and beyond.”
“The best thing about ABB is that they are there to help and teach you,” said Michael Scott Peters, a USU student and regular ABB customer. “If you are having a maintenance problem you can take your bike rental in and they will teach you how to fix it yourself so that you know how to do it in the future.”
Peters rented a bike throughout his freshman year and will be renting one for his participation in the Spudman Triathlon that will be held in Idaho this summer.
ABB is paid for through student fees and is currently the smallest student fee at $2.75 per student, per semester.
“We are paying a lot of money in student fees and it is good to know where that money is going,” Peters said. “Even though we are paying a lot in student fees, $2.75 to check out a bike for three months at a time is a really good deal.”
For more information on ABB visit www.usu.edu/abb.
— jillian.mccarthy@aggiemail.usu.edu